Small Things Are Big Things

To make holiday shopping easy Eli’s Lids has compiled a Gift Guide of the best for Lil’ Boys! Separated by age – 1-year-olds, 2-year-olds, 3-year-olds & 4-year-olds – and filled with tried and true classics alongside unique finds, you’re sure to find the perfect giftie for the lil’ guys in your life!

Toys:

The male love affair with of all things with wheels starts young. With these toys you can’t go wrong. My grandmom has a racecar track at her house similar to this City Ramp Racing Set from Melissa & Doug and it has been the toy of choice for every little boy for the last 20 years!

It’s pretty inevitable that your lil’ guy will like trains! Most likely Thomas the Tank Engine will make an appearance in your home in some way shape or form. Why not combine the train thing with something else, just in case the trains don’t stick. (Trains didn’t last long at our place but I know some families where it is still going strong till jr high!) Mega Bloks has Thomas and Friends sets.

Might as well throw in a kick a&$ basic Mega Bloks set… We have the 80 piece Maxi Block Bag and it’s just the right amount to be creative. Check out my sweet trash truck-alley-dumpster scene from when Eli was 2-years-old.

You can even make your own Little People…

Clothes:

Eli’s Lids pirate tees… need I say more!?!?!

   

Book:

Everyone knows Discovery Toys has some great toys but did you know they have books!?!? We love Ahoy, Pirate Pete. Kiddos get to switch out words in the story with little velcro pictures. Lil’ boys live the silly sentences…

   

Movie:

Hosted by the Pirates Who Don’t Do Anything each of the songs on The Ultimate Silly Song Countdown are sure fire ways to get lil’ boys to crack up. My favorites title are The Hairbrush Song and I love my Lips… (did I mention it’s only $8!?!)

TV Show:

If you’ve never heard of Kipper the Dog you HAVE to check him out! Based on British Children’s books you can find Kipper DVDs for cheap ($3 – perfect stocking stuffer) or stream him on Netflix. The Kipper DVD is a collection of 10 or so vignettes, they are short, simple, sweet and silly… the perfect combo to calm down our 2-year-old boys. I swear, when this comes on my kiddos are mesmerized! Below is his theme song. Watch loads of Kipper clips here!

Music:

He’s silly, mellow, got a wild head of hair, and is a sharp dresser! What’s not to love about Dan Zanes?!?!!! Listen to excerpts of his House Party CD… you won’t want to kill yourself when kiddos listed to it over and over and over it’s music even mommies and daddies like…

Game:

I love love love playing games with my kiddos, and now that your lil’ guy is two he can start getting into games too. The bright colors and simple rules make Hi Ho Cherry-O the perfect first game. The box recommends 3 years+, probably for the small choking hazard pieces, but just keep it up high and don’t let them play without you. AND for heaven’s sake DON’T let you kiddos win all the time! How are they going to learn how to lose or how to be excited if a friend wins or how to encourage people who lose. Good sportsmanship folks!!! (stepping off the soapbox) Anyway, buy the game it’s only $8.00… 

 

Wearing our Rocker Lid with hearts, her “princess” headband and brandishing a golf club sword.

To make holiday shopping easy Eli’s Lids has compiled a Gift Guide of the best for Lil’ Boys! Separated by age – 1-year-olds, 2-year-olds, 3-year-olds & 4-year-olds – and filled with tried and true classics alongside unique finds, you’re sure to find the perfect giftie for the lil’ guys in your life!

Toy:

Cyrus received the Fisher Price Roll-a-Rounds Swirlin Surprise Gumballs (catchy toy name…not!) from a family friend, and it’s a huge hit. He loves to eat look at the gumballs and plop them in the top of the machine. As he flails his arms around he somehow hits the right buttons to make the ball go through the machine and play music…

 

Clothes:

These baby booties were a real find on etsy from Zoerose’s Place. One of those times when hours in the etsy vortex pays off… (if you click over to her store and Betzy is sold out just send her a message and I’m sure you can work something out)

Cowboy boots $6.00 (other colors too!) You can’t afford NOT to get these!

 

Black Hightop Booties $5.00 (in blue too!) Perfect lil’ boy gift for a shower too!!

 

Book:

The classic Goodnight Moon is a must-have for your lil’ one’s book collection and you’re sure to read it over and over again. (and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over…)

Movie:

If your lil’ guy is anything like my lil’ guys, then this guy is a big hit! Grab The Letter Quest (three Elmo stories) for only $8.99…

TV Show:

Whether you are into sign language for babies or not, Signing Time is packed with awesome songs as well as enforcing new vocabulary for lil’ ones! (They are also involved with one of our favorite charities – Surfers Healing!)

Music:

Sing Me to Sleep offers an alternative to campy versions of classic lullabies (though I love campy too). It boasts this description, “award-winning album of newly recorded lullaby favorites, and popular songs whimsically re-imagined as lullabies by some of today’s best indie artists.” In other words lullabies you’ll like as much as your kiddos.

Game:

Colorful flash cards are so much fun for lil’ ones! If you want an alternative to the typical character cartoony cards try these memory cards by Charley Harper. (Learn more about Charley Harper art here.) I also have my eye on this Charley Harper card/puzzle set for Cy.

 

Stay tuned for the rest of the gift guide!!

 

It’s the first Monday of the Month so pop over to MOMday Morning hosted by Blessed Nest to win $100 cash and a Nesting Pillow.

I’ve got some fun stuff for all my local friends!!

First, Rascals to Rebels (stores in Huntington Beach and Seal Beach) is offering my readers this coupon. Just think, you can finish your Christmas shopping in one swoop…

A lil’ about Rascals to Rebels…

Rascals to Rebels is more than a specialty children’s boutique – this store really is a one-stop shop for all your holiday gifts. Their assortment of unique finds is sure to impress. Plus, they have a little area for the rascals to play while you shop, shop, shop away.  Make sure to become a fan of Rascals to Rebels on Facebook to learn about many upcoming holiday events and promotions and to take part in their Facebook Friday Giveaways!

Second, one of our favorite date spots, Improv in Brea, is offering special deals for my readers. Hot Hubby and I love a live show… you may remember the Ralphie May incident. (He’ll be there tonight if you can find a sitter asap!)

Coupons good till the end of the month (read fine print for limits), so check the Brea Improv calendar and get your date night arrangements made… like now!

We saw Tom Wilson (Biff from Back to the Future!) the last time we were at the Improv. It was the second time we’ve seen him and he does not disappoint. Check out one of our favorite Tom Wilson bits answering all the Back to the Future questions he gets after his shows…

 

We are getting ready to reveal our Eli’s Lids Holiday Gift Guide for Lil’ Boys and I’m busy decorating for Christmas. Which makes me think of putting up the lights last year…

 

Finally, check out my latest post at OC Family with hostess gift ideas!

Eli’s wanted to grow his hair long (like Samson) but it was getting a bit scraggly. I sent Hot Hubby on a haircut mission with Eli. The instructions were simple: “Just clean it up a bit. No clippers!”

Here’s how he looked when he came home…

Remind you of anyone??

Just in case you don’t recognize the picture reference…

Thank goodness it has grown out in time for our Christmas photos with Kristen last weekend!!

Mondays I like to share something I got. We all like to share a good deal, splurge, unique find or fun activity. If you got something awesome (or lame) recently and blogged about it, be sure to leave me a link to the post in the comments!

I have a weakness for dishes (remember my turkeys?). There is just something about a beautiful table setting that gets my heart a pumpin’. On Thanksgiving my grandmom gave me my birthday gift – some of her milk glass that I’ve had my eye on for ages. Have you heard of Milk Glass? It’s absolutely beautiful vintage dinnerware that comes in blue, green white & pink.  Now I own 9 brunch plates with punch cups, a kick a&$ pineapple sugar bowl, a little votive (I think it’s a votive) and another thingy. I don’t know what it is, do you? I thought I would ask because of all the help I got with my salt and pepper shakers.

And some milk glass for you to drool over…

 

(Pix from Jadite Kate   & Fric and Frac)

 

(Pix from Spring Chick& Milk Glass)

(Pic from One Charming Party)

I’m thankful we are so (overly) blessed we could adopt a family through our church and provide them with a HUGE Thanksgiving feast as well as groceries to last a couple of weeks…

I’m thankful to live in the USA…

I’m thankful for sewing…

I’m thankful for snowman pirates made of play dough… (can you guess who made these?)

I’m thankful for father daughter dances after dinner…

I’m thankful someone is sitting…

I’m thankful for my biz…

Most of all I’m thankful I don’t have to cook today!

What are you thankful for???

Check out my video (full post on OC Family) to make these beauties:

(How much do you love how the video paused me??!?)

Also see how I transformed my star and “L” for the fall…

Warning: I must have been in the mood for corn.

I discovered an adorable cupcake blog, Cute Cupcakes. All The Time., and saw this beauty. I think it’s a great modification of the Chick-fil-a Cow. In fact, I think I want an In-N-Out Burger…

Speaking of In-N-Out… did you know INO has a race car this year?

I did.

Happy Turkey day! Have fun cooking. If you watch the video you’ll know what I’ll be making this year.

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