Powered by

The 2009 Jolly Holiday Guide: Stocking Stuffers

 Email Print   
Monday, December 07, 2009
Maria Pilar Clark
Cosmotot

 

Recent posts

Top 5 Finds for a Creative and Clean Halloween - 10/12/2011

Giveaway: Clark & Mayfield Laptop Tote - 10/7/2011

Disney FamilyFun Celebrates Talk Like A Never Land Pirate Day - 9/19/2011


RSSSubscribe to this blog

Enter your e-mail address to receive updates:

 
 
 

Fill their stockings with the season's best stuffers from Cosmotot's list of hand-picked anti-trinkets (you won't find any Pez or tube socks here) all for about $20 or less.

120809_PakNakPak Naks are rubbery, interchangeable, adhesive-backed 3-D charms kids can stick to backpacks, headbands, lunchbags, lamps, bins and more. Each Nak has a name (think Tan N. Baum and Charmy S. Fly) and personality, complete with a list of favorite foods, best friends, favorite activities and a description of where they call home. There are 40 to choose from, and they all come with trading cards and access to the interactive Nak-Land Game. Freebie: Download the entire Pak Nak collection coloring book here and get 15% off your order with JOY15 through Jan. 1.

Enter Cosmotot's Jolly Holiday Pak Nak Giveaway for a chance to120809_RosenberryRooms win your own set of 2 holiday-themed Naks (click here to see them) now-Dec. 13 at midnight CST. Love to sled? Build snowmen? Bake cookies? Volunteer? Tell me about it by posting your family's favorite holiday activity below. One random winner will be announced Dec. 14.

Rosenberry Rooms makes spirits bright with a personalized, hand-painted ornament for twins (Baby's First Christmas, only child and older child available, too) by Jamie's Painting and Design. Each ornament is custom made, heat-sealed for keepsaking, and includes a coordinating ribbon. All Jamie's Painting and Design ornaments are 10% off until Dec. 13. Get free shipping through Dec. 20 with SHIP4FREE.

If you know a120809_VioletGumdrop pair of besties, twins or sisters perpetually attached at the hip, gift 'em with Best Friend Necklaces from Violet Gumdrop. The peanut butter and jelly; coffee and donut; milk and cookies; and hot chocolate and marshmallow combos make for a fantastically campy, offbeat alternative to those old broken heart necklaces from the 80's. Use VIOLET to get 20% off your order.120809_CreativeClipsColleen

Little girls and fancy frocks go together like cute and a puppy this time of year, so it's only fitting that she have a collection of hair clips to match. Creative Clips by Colleen (think dramatic flowers embellished with paillettes, bold sequined bows and more) make the holiday rounds with ease, thanks to non-slip velcro strips that are secured to the inside of each handmade clip, making them hold fast to even the finest baby hair.

120809_DivviesLet little ones stuff their faces without fear with help from Divvies. Made for kids with food allergies (and even those that don't), all of their gourmet treats like chocolate bars (think Snowmen and Happy Hannukah chocolates for the holidays), popcorn, jellybeans, gumballs, bakery cookies and cupcakes, just to name a few, are made without peanuts, tree nuts, eggs or milk. Free ship120809_RebelInkBayping until Dec. 22 on orders over $100.

Santa Claus isn't the only sweet-cheeked fatty who can fly thanks to the imaginative parents behind Rebel Ink Baby's Cape Bib. Its extra long, extra flaring design catches spills when worn as a traditional bib, but when turned around, lets toddlers transform into might merry super heroes. Free shipping on orders of $50 or more.

120809_BearHandsBearhands keep little hands covered in the cold with thinsulate lined, water-repellent mittens styled to look like paws. Made from warm and toasty polyester polar fleece, each oversized mitten has black, non-slip PVC pads that are perfect for grabbing snowballs, and a secret flap that gives bare hands easy access to snowboot laces and cups of hot chocolate. Complete the pawsome look with coordinating Chinstrap Hats and innovative Buddy scaves that give kids an easy way t120809_SkipHopo wear their favorite stuffed animal while leaving hands free for play. Use ONL10 for 10% off through Dec. 31.

Kids need sturdy catchalls like parents need Mary Poppins. And, while the latter is unlikely to happen anytime soon, the former can be found at Skip Hop. Their clever Hare baby comb-and-brush set offers parents soft-grip handles and the gift of distraction - there's a round, baby-safe mirror on the bunny's base. While you're at it, brighten up the bath and protect little noggins with Moby, a whale-shaped cover that fits snugly over the spout with an adjustable fin strap. Its tail doubles as a120809_DanZanes hook for drying when not in use.

Get down to the wild and wooly sounds of eclectic, Grammy-winning children's group Dan Zanes & Friends and their new album, 76 Trombones. Get free shipping with your order of $60 or more. Freebie: Your choice of a Fine Friends Are Here live DVD and signed lithograph or Dan Zanes red bird with a purchase of $40 or more. Alternately, purchase the DanZanes Gift Pack and get any Dan Zanes CD free.

Appeal to your little suga120809_SweetPapierrplums' sweet senses with darling paper treats from Naperville-based, mom-owned and operated Sweet Papier. Their newly introduced foldover owl notecards mix nature-inspired designs with fresh hues like strawberry, chocolate and moss (not to mention eco-friendly papers made of 30% post-consumer waste) for a fanciful end result that invites kids to send heartfelt thank yous to all the friends and family who made their holidays extra happy.

120809_LauriesLagniappeIndulge big appetities for sweet holiday treats (and some of those green beans you served with dinner) with melamine plate sets from Laurie's Lagniappe. The family-owned, New Orleans-based business is all about Southern hospitality and "a little something extra," which shows in its exhaustive options. Choose from more than 22 patterns, fonts and designs, not to mention the choice to personalize with a name, initial or nickname. There's no product preview before you purchase, but with each set elaborately hand-wrapped by mom who also designs whimsical sippy cup inserts for Playtex, you know it has to be good.

Maria Pilar Clark is a mom times two and Windy City-based writer.

See more of Pilar's stories here.

Contact Pilar at mariapilarclark@yahoo.com

Our picks

 

Stay in touch

Be the first to know!

Events, coupons and contests by email

 
 
Park Nak Giveaway WINNER!

By Maria Pilar Clark on Tuesday, November 13, 2012

And the winner of Cosmotot's Pak Nak Giveaway is ... Jenny Tuthill! Please email me at mariapilarclark [!at] yahoo [dot] com with your contact information, including your address and phone number so your prize can be sent out right away. Thanks for participating!

fave family holiday activity...

By Daniel on Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Going to visit the PICU in Peoria where our oldest was born...taking stuffed animals for the heart kids currently there for the holidays, and gift cards for their parents. We love that our oldest loves to give to those in need at such a young age! It sums up the holidays for us!

Cutting down the Christmas tree

By Jenny Tuthill on Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Every year since I can even remember, my family and I drove 2.5 hours away on Black Friday to cut down our Christmas tree in Michigan. We would ride the hay ride out, pick out that perfect tree, and cut it down. I learned to use a saw really well. Afterwards we would have hot chocolate and warm up before we then strapped the tree to the car and drove 2.5 hours back home. This year is my son's first Christmas. We now live in Charleston, SC so the drive to Michigan was now longer possible. We did drive about 1.5 hours to a tree farm to cut down our first Christmas tree as a family. It was amazing and a little warmer then all the years I did it growing up. (since there is no snow here-:)

Directories

Entertainers/Party Supplies
Nannies
Home-based business
Resale