Chic Simple Moms

Last Minute Holiday Gifts

It's hard to believe but there are only 3 shopping days left until Christmas! For those looking for last minute gifts, here are two can't miss items that will keep people happy all year long.

For the coffee lovers in your life:

The SENSEO Coffee Pod system is a must have in any household, especially one that has multiple coffee drinkers with different tastes. Perfect for those who live in cold climates and will be drinking hot beverages through the long winter, it's a stylish, energy efficient and waste free option that makes enough coffee for one, or two. You choose the strength of the coffee, the number of cups you want to make and it does the rest. The coffee pods used in the system are perfectly sized, making them economical and great if you are a household like mine that has different tastes in strengths and flavors of coffee. Coffee pods range from a traditional breakfast blend to Godiva's two new scrumptious flavors, Crème Brule and Chocolate Crème. Best of all, the pods can be found in the coffee section of your local grocery. The Senseo also makes tea so it's also perfect for the tea lover on your list.

 

There are three models ranging from the Original to the Supreme. MSRP: $69.99-$139.99. Visit www.senseo.com or www.amazon.com to purchase. The sleek design, ease of use, and waste free pods make this an Everyday Chic item for anyone left on your list.

 

(GIVEAWAY ITEM) For the techie in your life that wants a reliable backup source on a regular basis, the Seagate FreeAgent Xtreme is the perfect solution.

Sleek and simple to use, the Xtreme is one of the largest capacity external hard drives available on the market with (500GB to 1.5TB). Preloaded with software make it perfect for regular backups and data transfer is sleek and quick with three different interfaces (eSATA, USB and FireWire). There is a MAC compatible version of this drive so anyone you know who is an avid computer user can have the backup capacity they need.

For those who want a bigger drive but are concerned about the amount of energy they use, this is the PERFECT drive. Seagate is committeed to building technology that is on the cutting edge yet ecologically friendly. They produce large capacity drives usch as the Xtreme that use less power. It's an interesting convergence of environmental and business benefits that you won't find anywhere else. Their commitment to environmentally practices makes this drive both Earthy Chic and Everyday Chic. For more information on their environmental practices, visit www.seagate.com/www/en-us/about/global_citizenship/products_environment.

MSRP on the Xtreme ranges from $159.99 to $229.99, price points you can't beat for the Seagate name and quality. To purchase the Xtreme, visit www.seagate.com to order online or find your nearest retailer.

Yes, the Xtreme is a giveaway item. Check it out, comment on why you'd love to have one of your own. Contest will run until January 3, 2009 so it will be the perfect item to start your New Year with!

Casio EX-S10 Digital Camera

I was given one of these cameras to cover a UL (Underwriter's Laboratories )media event in Chicago (the Daley Center Tree Lighting) and was very surprised at how sleek and chic it was, not to mention all the cool features. It's also good to know that this camera is safe to use around my kids, despite all the technological gadgetry it has.

The EX-S10 is the smallest 10 mega-pixel on the market today. With an instant video button, 3 hrs of video on a 2GB SD card, data down load, YouTube ready, iTunes for easy transfer of videos to iPod, iPhone, iTouch, 2.7-inch Super Clear LCD & 3x zoom it should be on every one's gift/wishlist this holiday season!

Visit Casio's website for where to buy online and for your local retailer.

For more information about UL's Safety at Home program visit www.safetyathome.com .

Holiday Gifts: Chic Simple Kid Friendly Items

With 5 shopping days until Christmas, the shopping rush is on. Still need gifts for the kids in your life? Look no further. These items are a no-brainer.

For the little ones (ages 3+)

 

Plan Toys Melody Xylophone is eco-chic and budget friendly. Colorful and well made, the curve base allows it to produce real music note and parents can use the 3 musical cards included ("Jingle Bells", "Ode to Joy", and "Mary had a Little Lamb") to start developing sound recognition and foster music appreciation.

Founded in 1981 in Thailand, Plan Toys has been using non-toxic water based colors since 1994 and preservative-free rubber wood since 2004. They are innovators in both toy invention and environmentally friendly manufacturing practices.

Because of the small parts, this item is recommended for children age 3+. For a younger child, check out their Oval Xylophone which is recommended for children 18 months+. With the Melody Xylophone priced at $25 and the Oval Xylophone priced at $19, these are no-brainer gifts that will keep your children busy and happy and will last for years to come.

For the little car buffs:

Another Plan Toys favorite at my house, their Racing Car is propelled by a gear box and zooms forward when pulled back and released. It's the perfect sized stocking stuffer and fits easily into a little one's jacket pocket or a diaper bag. Because of the small parts (all securely attached), it's recommended for ages 3+ and at $5.00 it's another no-brainer gift or gift addition.

To purchase, visit www.plantoysusa.com to order online or to find a retailer near you.

For yourself or anyone looking to keep bath toys in check, Kuster's Bath Toy Store is perfect for tub time and looks great in any bathroom. To purchase go to www.goores.com.

 

 

For the tweener on your list…

Nintendo DS makes me smile. Back in the DAY, it was a single game—in my case, Donkey Kong. Now, Nintendo DS is a mini/portable gaming system and nowadays, the games available are family appropriate, rated "E" for everyone.

The Ener-G Horse Riders game is one of these games. For the budding equestrian in your life, this is a no brainer game allowing the player to choose from several horses and choose their own equestrian challenges. It's a non violent game so your littlest one can be looking over the player's shoulder without worry about them seeing anything inappropriate. Ubisoft has a number of casual, non-violent games that will keep both a tweener and any set of parents happy.

Visit www.ubisoft.com to purchase or to find the nearest retailer near you.

Holiday Gift Guide: Geek Chic

Fabulous Geek Chic Gadgets (and Giveaways!)

 

Itzbeen: For the mama to be or any mom is sleep deprived and needs to keep track of baby's sleeping, feeding, diaper changing schedule. Also great for moms with toddlers who are trying to get them back on a schedule and need a timer to set a limit for a single task (countdown to bath time, limiting TV time).

Awarded a JPMA (Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association www.jpma.org) 2007 Innovation Award and invented by a mom (and dad), it's a no-brainer at $26.99. www.mom4life.com to purchase and check out their site for more mama chic, mama invented products.

 

Days Ago digital counter: Tired of hiding your permanent markers from your little ones but need to keep track of what's been in the fridge for how long? For anyone watching their food budget or concerned with food safety these are no brainers for their fridge or pantry. Originally developed by two moms to keep track of how long leftover baby food had been stored, it's also great for keeping track of medications, aquarium/pet cage cleanings and garden watering. Attaches easily to containers with a suction cup, band or magnet and has a replaceable battery.

Set of (2) for $10. There is also a special edition in Pink with 10% of the proceeds going to breast cancer awareness. www.daysago.com

                

(Giveaway Item!) For the Apple/MAC user in your life, Bento 2 is a user friendly organizer that will make any digital mom happy. Made by Filemaker, it's got the complexity of a traditional database but the simplicity and grace of a MAC program. Organize any aspect of your life ranging from your child's birthday party to vehicle records. It's a database program without a complicated database feel and for the diehard Apple fan; it's integrated with the iPhone and MobileMe mail.

Can't beat the price point at $49.00 and for a limited time you can download the free Holiday Pack from the Filemaker site to help organize your cards, gifts and end of year donations.

Visit www.filemaker.com/products/bento to purchase.

 

(Giveaway Item!) For the photo enthusiast, Corel's newly released Paint Shop Pro Photo 2 Ultimate is a great addition her software library. It's packed with features that allow you to edit, manipulate and fix photos and provides support for 250 camera formats. My personal favorite is the background remover which allows you to change the background of a photo (think being able to create your own "Find Waldo" with your kid's photos). Create away with this software that allows you to look like a professional and have fun in the process!

$79.99 online at www.corel.com for the full version and $49.99 for the upgrade.

 

The Aura Mobile BT by Spracht is a must-have for any mom. The Bluetooth enabled device turns any phone (mobile, cordless, pc/VOIP) into a high quality conference call phone. It's small enough to put in your purse or diaper/laptop bag and works with a wired connection as well. It also has echo and noise cancellations so it's perfect to use in the car even when the little ones are bickering in the backseat. Best of all, the unit comes with everything you need and there's no software to install so it can be used right out of the box. It's small, sleek and definitely geek chic for any mom on your list!

$99.00 at www.spracht.com .

 

(Giveaway Item!) For all you mommy bloggers out there, the Clickfree Automatic Backup drive is a MUST HAVE! In minutes, it backs up all your files ranging from photos to documents and all you need to do is connect the device to your pc or laptop with the USB cord. No additional software needed and it's small enough to fit in a purse or laptop bag. What makes it so smart is it automatically finds and backups your files, separating them by category (i.e. photos, documents, music) and by PC. The 160GB version is large enough to backup files on 10 different PCs and there are now 250GB, 320GB and 500GB versions available.

For those who prefer to have a hard copy backup, DVD backups are also available and like the drive are "click free"—no additional software to install.

Again, a must-have for anyone who relies on their pc or laptop. Snap one up BEFORE you experience a crash!

$119.99 for the 160GB drive at www.clickfree.com. DVD backups start at $9.99.

 

Sleek and chic best describe the Jawbone Bluetooth headset. Normally I am not a fan of headsets because they all look so…conventional but I love the Jawbone!

This well designed device looks and feels more like a piece of jewelry or a fancy barrette that you won't be afraid to wear even to the glitziest of holiday parties (just in case the babysitter calls…). Better yet, it charges quickly, comes with several ear loops and ear buds you can get the proper fit.

$129.99 with free shipping from the Jawbone website at www.jawbone.com.

Giveaway Items

1. Pick one item (NOTE: ONLY the items with (giveaway items) before their title are giveaways!)
2. Comment on why you think it's Geek Chic (note, for the Clickfree, the giveaway will be a 250GB Drive!)
3. Let me know who you'd give it to (yourself is fine!)

Contest runs from Friday, December 5 to Sunday, December 14 at midnight CST. Winner will be picked via Random.org and must be 18 or over and a US citizen to enter. Need not be a blogger to enter so pass the word around to your family and friends! Good luck!

 

Olive Smart Bags

I'm one of those well-meaning people who tries to remember to put the bags back into the car after I've unloaded the groceries, but alas, it never happens. So instead, I have a pile of brown paper bags filling up one of my kitchen cabinets and a host of grocery store bags hanging downstairs by our jackets and boots. I thought I'd never get it together with bringing my own bags to the store.

Until now.

Olive Smart Bags has come to the rescue! Six bags that conveniently fit into a drawstring sack that is designed to fit into the cup holder of your car, a purse or diaper bag. Six bags that are well made, look good and handle all my shopping needs. Great to take along as an extra bag on a trip or toting toys to the park and best of all, they are machine washable. I love the fact that they have a catchy name ("all live smart"), are smaller sized (20lbs) and they fold up small.

Get home, unload the groceries, refold the bags and back into the diaper bag they go. Easy, simple, smart and chic!

Olive Smart is the brainchild of two moms in Woodside, California (just south of San Francisco) which makes them both earthy-chic and mama-chic!

$39.00 for the set of six bags makes them a great gift for yourself or someone else (babysitter, teacher, co-worker). Click on the Olive Smart logo below to purchase and get 15% (until December 15^th) off your purchase by entering the code BLOSSOM2.

Skip*Hop Studio

I have always been a purse toting kind of gal. Not necessarily a girly purse but some kind of purse/tote/bag that holds more than my wallet and keys. Since having kids, my passion for purses has turned into a penchant for diaper bags. At last count, I have at least (7), the majority of them being Skip*Hop so I will admit I was VERY excited when my new Studio bag arrived in the mail courtesy of their PR department.

I LOVE THIS BAG!!!!

I've always liked Skip*Hop bags because they're smart, functional, well made and well priced. The Studio plays by the same rules, EXCEPT, it's CHIC. It's the stylish, slightly slouchy bag I've wanted to buy for months but resisted because on any given day, I have a sippy cup, diapers and some kind of snack in my bag. It's large enough to throw in the toddler necessities and my Thinkpad and that makes mom VERY happy. But again, it's the non-diaper bag structured diaper bag with the outside pockets that hold the sippy cup or mom's water bottle. The clips inside are functional for attaching it to the stroller or just clipping on mom's keys so she can find them. Inside pockets hold everything from diapers to my wallet and cell phone and the front zip pocket has my stash of snacks that keep both me and the kids happy. Additional functional features of this bag:

• Water resistant inside and out
• PVC-free, eco-friendly materials
• Nickel feet that keep the bag off the floor and the bottom scuff free

Run, don't walk, to your nearest retailer for this sleek, slouchy, chic, mama-friendly bag or put it at the top of your holiday wish list. At $89.00, you can look stylish both at the playground, and out and about—without the little ones or the diapers in tow.

Click on the Skip*Hop logo to find more innovative and chic baby items and locate a retailer near you.