Cream Colored Ponies, It's ALL About Kids-A Few of My Favorite Things

In my opinion Every Day is about Kids, but the Holidays are built for Kids, ALL Kids which we all become every year at this time. I believe that gifts for kids should be ideas that are not only fun but also help them learn, grow, think, care and Smile!

I brought a friend along for the ride on this one-Elmo is such a Good Buddy and Elmo Live is on My List too! So come join Elmo and take a look at A Few of My Favorite Things for ALL Kids!

Mackenzie-Childs

Creative Kids!

Potter's Wheel, Car Designer Set,Create a Quilt and My Art Gallery all from HearthSong


Imagination!

Connectagons and Frog Play Tent from HearthSong



Explore!

Sea-Scope from HearthSong

Play!

Beginner's Golf,Hopscotch mat from HearthSong.
Felt Playhouse from Wisteria. Snake Bike Lock from Garnet Hill


KidsStyle

Princess felt Slippers, Barrettes, Critter Backpack,Felt Purse from Garnet Hill

Slippers and Socks from Mackenzie-Childs



The BEST Gift you can give any child is the gift of reading...Here are some new and old favorites and please share the joy of reading by making a donation to First Book

Fisher-Price Elmo Live

SummerTIME

Oh! Do not attack me with your watch. A watch is always too fast or too slow. I cannot be dictated to by a watch.
Jane Austen, Mansfield Park

I would be very happy living my life never wearing a watch, or shoes for that matter-particularly in summer. So why do I own so many watches(not to mention so many pairs of shoes!!)?? Summer of all seasons really should be the time of year when we can walk around not caring what time it is. The days are long and schedules are relaxed or tossed all together. I may not care what time it is but I do love the "look" of a great watch. Watches are an essential accessory and gone are the days of owning just one, or one for day and one for dress. Summer watches are fun, as they should be, light, bright or white! Acrylic, resin, ceramic, leather strapped, grosgrain,bracelet... here are some favorites...

White Hot...THE watch of the season comes from Chanel...

(Chanel)

The The J12 White ceramic diamond dial chronograph watch has the look but $10,000 for a summer watch...

I like the ToyWatch Ceramic with diamonds as a "less expensive" option $1500 (ToyWatch)

A White strap against summer skin is a sign that you are summer ready...

David Yurman Thoroughbred(Nordstom)

Brighton (Brighton)
TOKYO Bay Oversized (Garnet Hill)
Honora Mother of Pearl

Ceramic, Rubber, Resin,Acrylic and Plastic are all a twist on the Chanel. Surrounded with diamonds or crystals...your choice all mimick with good style...
Michael Kors Chronograph Resin (Bloomingdales)

Michele Tahitian Chronograph Diamond and Ceramic Bracelet (Michele)
IKE Gommato (Nordstroms)

ToyWatch Oversized Acrylic (Toywatch)


(Elyse Ryan)
My summer watch this year comes from Elyse Ryan. Her lemonade watch is a part of her collection to support Alex's Lemonade Stand

COLOR It!!...

Toy Watch Neon Plasteramic (Toywatch)

SWATCH Plastic (SWATCH)




Kiss and Tell Skagen (Sundance)

TOKYO Bay Boyfriend Watch (Garnet Hill)

Zodiac Round Face Rubber Band (Nordstroms)

FUN! !!!!!

Hello Kitty Ceramic and Diamond (Neiman Marcus)

Kenneth Jay Lane Animal Covered Face Bangle Watch(Nordstroms)




Hello Kitty Patent Strap(Neiman Marcus)



Hang this Gossip watch off your tote(QVC)



Tracey Porter style...Tracey Porter

Nautical Charm(QVC)





"Tortoise" of course(Pedre)





I love Ribbon watches...all year round but with shorts or a sundress they are perfect-this has an actual Burberry Ribbon (Girly Twirly)


(Three Chickadees )

Summer Prep Part II-Bagging It! Confessions of a Summer Bag Lady

(Kate Spade)
A Bag Lady's favorite season...Summer! There is no time of year that is all about "I need a new bag", "Let me just grab my bag" more than now. You need a light throw it all in bag for the office, a bag for that wedding you don't want to go to, a bag for an evening at an outside concert, a bag for daytrips, a bag for the beach, a bag for ballgames,a bag for the farmer's market, a bag for the weekend away, a bag to hold everybody's everything, a bag to make you remember a special summer night...Clutches, totes, baskets,satchels,shoppers all in fabrics and materials that make you want to change your attitude and your outfit. Here are just a few of my favorite Bags for EVERY Reason this Season!...

Off to Work: Needs to be light but sturdy and organized... The AU Cotton Canvas Metro Daybag in their exclusive Quadrille fabric is sophisticated and summer cool. Maine's Ann Veronica's Cape Elizabeth Commuter is not only named for my favorite spot in Maine but also holds it all when I have to leave Maine and go to work

(AU) (Ann Veronica) (Flee Bags)

To Market to Market: Off to the Farmer's Market or the Flea Market..no more plastic bags -Scout Bags come in great colors and sizes and I love these recycled bags made from candy wrappers and juice labels!

(Scout Bags) (Via Terra) (Uncommon Goods)

Off for the Weekend: Pack it all and go away! I think my favorite bags are my get away bags...pulling those out means I am going someplace!!! Ann Veronica's Great Diamond Island Bag is hand screened on tough canvas, colorful fun patterns and lots of pockets. Tory Burch lets you arrive sophisticated LL Bean's duffle can be tossed in to the back seat anytime and Pierre Duex offers their most classic toile for toting.

(Ann Veronica) (Tory Burch) (LL Bean)

(Pierre Deux)

Beach Day!: Plop it in the sand...Scout Bags can take it all and just wipe clean as do Flee Bags which are made from oilcloth...love the cooler, you need snacks!

(Scout Bags) (Flee Bags) (Flee Bags)

On The Boat: Sail Off with everything: THE Perfect Boat bag is made from recycled Sails from Sea Bags in Maine...and speaking of Maine, I have lost count of the number of LL Bean Totes I own. The Forever tote that goes with me everywher and holds up to all my tough treatment. Hint..create a custom one in colors you love and add an outside pocket for keys and your cell, of course get it monogrammed.

(LL Bean)

(Sea Bags) (Lily Pulitzer) (Ann Veronica)

Day Tripping: My throw it all in and go bag this summer is AU's Raincoat Cotton French Tote filled with pockets..and you can get caught in the rain! Vineyard Vines slouch bag is reversible and comfy.

(Vineyard Vines) (AU) (Scout Bags)


Shopping and Lunch: You don't need to carry eveything but you do need to look good...Tory Burch won't let you down.

(Scout Bags) (Vineyard Vines) (Tory Burch)

(Tory Burch)

Summer in the City : A little less casual, a lot more sophistication. I love JCrew's bamboo handle bag and Kate Spade's Stevie bag is the perfect city bag and I travel with it too.

(J Crew) (Kate Spade) (J Crew)

Summer Straw: You cannot go through summer without a straw bag! Love Kate Spade's baskets(ab0ve) and totes and Garnet Hill's is a classic.

(Snappy Turtle) (Garnet Hill) (Kate Spade)

(Kate Spade)

Summer Evening: Don't carry the world...a classic clutch will do it and let you hold hands and dance. Tory Burch and Kate Spade get it done.

(Kate Spade) (Kate Spade) (Tory Burch)