Holiday Gift Guide 2011

Red Envelope for the Holidays: Giveaway

November 16, 2011 By Robin

Red Envelope has a fine array of items , perfect for holiday gifting. To make your shopping experience easier they have put together a nice general holiday gifts page with items which would appeal to a wide range of people. This is a great go-to spot, when you are struggling to figure out what to get someone on your list. Many of the items can be personalized , as well, so they will be extra special for the recipient.

For baby’s first Christmas, these pajama long johns would make an adorable gift

These Christmas brownie pops would make a great hostess gift, or to send to distant relatives to enjoy on the holiday. Aren’t they cute.

While shopping, I loved this light blue leather jewelry box. It is not what I ended out picking, but I am still thinking about how nicely it would go in my bedroom. The monogramming really dresses it up. The jewelry box is also available in black, red or chocolate brown.

I ended out choosing a red cashmere scarf. I nearly picked grey, but since scarves are not something I wear all the time, a punch of color seemed like a fun idea.

If you either want to dress up your own home for the holidays, or want to give a gift in the weeks coming up to Christmas. Red Envelope has some elegant yet festive choices. This wreath is a good alternative to flowers, and even has jingle bells.

This luminari village is sure to impress and will likely be treasured by the recipient for many years to come.

Finally, this personalized gingerbread house is sure to put anyone in jolly spirits. It would make a fantastic centerpiece, and you can eat it at the end of the meal.

Red Envelope usually has a few different discounts running, all of which are listed right on their website (http://www.redenvelope.com/discount-codes.aspx), so you can pick the one that works best for you.

Disclosure: A gift code was provided for myself and giveaway winner. All opinions presented here are my own.

Red Envelope Giveaway

One lucky Blommi reader will will a $75 gift code to Red Envelope.

Entry Options (do as many or as few as you like, but make sure to leave a separate comment for each entry)

Tell what item from Red Envelope you would get with the gift code.
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One winner will be randomly selected from all valid entries, and will have 48 hours to respond to their prize winner email notification. If winner fails to respond, within that time period, a new winner will be drawn. Giveaways hosted on Blommi are sponsored by third parties. Site owner will of course endeavor to see all prizes are fulfilled, but is not responsible for missing or damaged prizes. Contest ends November 30, 2011 at 11:59 pm CT. Open to US residents , age 18+.

Filed Under: Holiday Gift Guide 2011, Shopping

Little Mommy My Very Real Baby Doll Review

November 12, 2011 By Robin 2 Comments

I was recently sent a Little Mommy My Very Real Baby Doll , to review with my daughter. I have to say if you are looking for a big reaction out of your little girl, as she opens her holiday gifts, this is a great gift. As soon as the boxed doll, came out of the shipping carton, my four year old daughter flew across the room. She then danced excitedly, while I wrestled with getting the doll out of the box. She then proceeded to carry the doll around with her giggling and smiling.

Dolls are toys my daughter is just starting to “get”. She has autism, so pretend play is a more difficult concept for her to grasp than typically developing children. I was pleased to see her carry the doll around like a real baby (well, at least most of the time), and even give her a little hug and M’s version of a kiss (more a face smoosh). The doll really captured her interest, more so than any doll ever has in the past. I think the high level of interactivity of the doll has a lot to do with it’s success with her.

While many “interactive” baby dolls say a few phrases and/or do a few things, and generally shut down pretty quickly, this doll, much like a real baby, is a constant demander of attention. She requests food, tickles, help with boo-boos, hugs and clean-ups, often with follow-up phrases, if your child does help her with her requests. She has a tongue that turns green, when she eats her freezer pop and a red spot that lights up on her knee when she gets a boo-boo. Her arms also move around appropriately during the activities.

When laid down, or left alone for awhile, she will complain that she is sleepy and ask for her bear. After a few phrases, she will then shut down until your child picks her up again. If your child goes to bed with their Little Mommy doll, I would suggest clicking the doll off manually, so it doesn’t start chatting-them-up, if they roll over during the night.

The Little Mommy My Very Real Baby Doll is widely available in the blonde blue eyed version I have reviewed here, but is also available as a brunette with brown eyes on the Mattel website.

Little Mommy My Very Real Baby Doll at Kmart (Use the online code: JOLLYKM for an extra $5 off)

Little Mommy My Very Real Baby Doll at Walmart (low online price, and immediate free site to store at most locations)

Everyday Exotic: The Cookbook – Review

November 11, 2011 By Robin 1 Comment

If you want to experiment in the kitchen a bit, but have trouble integrating exotic ingredients into your menu, or just want to zing up traditional fare, this is a great cookbook for you. It would also make a lovely gift for the foodie in your life, especially if they are a fan of the Everyday Exotic show on the Cooking Channel. Since the cookbook is a new release, so it is unlikely they have it already, and some of the recipes in this book are quite interesting, even for more seasoned foodies.

The Everyday Exotic Cookbook has large colorful pictures depicting the completed recipes, as well as some nice ingredient shots. Pictures are important to me in a cookbook, and I was not at all disappointed with this title by Roger Mooking & Allan Magee.

Everyday Exotic: The Cookbook has a suggested retail price of $29.95, but is currently available at Barnes & Noble for $19.57 (Free shipping on orders over $25). Why not pair this book with a few of the exotic spices and other ingredients used in it, and make a gift basket no foodie would be soon to forget.

Media copy provided.

Filed Under: Books, Food & Beverage, Holiday Gift Guide 2011, Household

Bean Bag Boss… Now that’s a Big Bean Bag!

November 8, 2011 By Robin 2 Comments

As many of my readers already know, my little girl is autistic. The condition causes her to have very strong sensory needs, so anything that can make her alleviate this need, I am ready to try. I’d been thinking about getting her a bean bag chair for some time, but never got around to it, thus I was quite happy when Bean Bag Boss contacted me about doing a review of one of their bean bags.

I ordered a pink one to go with M’s new playroom color scheme. They had so many colors to choose from, and many patterns, as well. I was kept up to date on the shipping status, and the product arrived promptly. It was a HUGE box. Lucky for me, one of my daughter’s therapists was here when it arrived, and helped me drag it out of the box. The bean bag is not heavy at all, it was just tightly packed in there. This is one giant bean bag!

My daughter (and her therapist as well) went crazy for the big bean bag, and took a little break from the regular therapy schedule to play around on it. The bean bag is about 5 ft x 4 ft, so it is large enough for younger children to fully sprawl out on.

The design is versatile. My little girl likes to sit on it and eat her snacks, and lounges around on it to watch TV sometimes. I put it in a chair position and watch shows once in awhile when me back is bothering me. It feels good on it.

A Bean Bag Boss bean bag would make a terrific holiday gift for children, teens or adults. These big bean bags are priced from $169 10 $189 and are available in teardrop style also. Use the code: Blommi–999 for $10 off each purchase, unlimited usage. The code expires 12/31/2011. Shipping is already Free.

Check out this quick video to see the ways to use the bean bags and some of the material options available.

Disclosure: Product sample provided.

Filed Under: Holiday Gift Guide 2011, Reviews & Giveaways

Red Envelope for the Holidays: Giveaway

Red Envelope Giveaway

Little Mommy My Very Real Baby Doll Review

Everyday Exotic: The Cookbook – Review

Bean Bag Boss… Now that’s a Big Bean Bag!

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