gifts

November 4, 2016

GIFT GUIDE – UNCOMMON GOODS

Here are a few of our favorite things!

Uncommon Goods literally has something for everyone. Helloooo taco mobile. Anyone having a baby? Can we please get you a whole taco themed gift? Personally obsessed with the light box, and my kids are obsessed with the ice cream truck! Our friends, Haulin’ Oats have their amazing oatmeal on here- and we can testify that the cinnamon girl flavor is to die for!

The best part about Uncommon Goods is that they promote small businesses, emerging designers, and hand makers. Each item has a story behind it and a bio of the artist. As makers ourselves, we SO appreciate that! They also keep sustainability in mind- helping the earth and helping us gift beautiful, handmade items? Yes please.

Scroll down for links.

Love that the ice cream truck is made out of very easily put together cardboard, so it can be disassembled easily when your kids are finished playing. Great for small spaces.

As a blogger/instagrammer, the light boxes are perfect props for styling photos! And we’ve been using this as our shop sign when we do markets.

Here are our favs below, but also check out these easy to shop gift guide links:

BABY

finger puppet blanket

KIDS

balloon dog night lights

ice cream truck

make your own kaleidoscope

FOR HER

wine pearls

taco socks

nesting storage containers

haulin’ oats oatmeal

lightbox

party sprinkles

FOR HIM

bloody mary mix

men’s wooden watch

moscow mule carry on kit

August 19, 2015

FREE PRINTABLE – WEDDING CARD

I’m THE. WORST. about giving wedding gifts before the wedding. Or after the wedding. I finally sent my friends their wedding gift and thought I needed to legitimize myself. The wise Larry David mades everything okay, right? Here’s a free printable in case you’re the worst just like me!

DOWNLOAD HERE

-L

July 9, 2014

HOUSE WARMING IDEAS – FREE PRINTABLES

Our awesome friends, Drew and Kelly, just moved from New York to Nashville this month (everyone’s doing it, come on!), and I wanted to give them something special to welcome them to the South. If you need something easy and thoughtful, I designed some housewarming notes for recommendations around town to fill out. (Scroll down for download link.)

You could go all out and do a big basket of goodies with it, share homemade cookies, or just give something simple but much appreciated like a bottle of wine.

I ended up getting Drew and Kelly THIS AHeirloom Tennessee cutting board I’m obsessed with! You can get a star, heart, or home shape on the city where you live. The perfect welcome to the state. They have states, countries, custom items, and I’m drooling over these gorgeous geo cutting boards.

One of my fav house warming baskets/bucket I did for friends moving from California to Nashville: healthy snacks, homemade granola, yummy smelling soap, and a subscription to Nashville Magazine.

I also baked them healthy vegan banana bread (recipe here) – SERIOUSLY delicious! I knoooooow it’s healthy and vegan, but for real… it’s insanely m-o-i-s-t and delish! Plus I added bittersweet chocolate chips, so how bad could it be?

(Normally I like to bake yummy fatty cookies, but if you couldn’t tell… these people are health nuts!)

I wrapped the banana bread in saran wrap first, then wrapped that in a recycled paper grocery bag and tied with twine.

Download the housewarming notes HERE and HERE.

Welcome to Nashville, y’all!

I can type that… just not say it. That’s the midwesterner in me!

-L

April 4, 2014

SHOP CRUSH: DABNEY LEE

The first in our Store Crush series is Dabney Lee in Brooklyn, New York. One of our fav things is supporting small businesses, especially ones owned by women and mamas. Oh and Dabney is a mama to THREE. Triplets. Count ’em. Dabney manages to somehow balance motherhood to her cuties AND run a successful design business AND own an adorable retail shop. This colorful gem is located in the charming Brooklyn borough, Dumbo (and this summer she’s taking over Shelter Island!). Filled to the brim with beautiful paper, cheeky cards, unique party supplies, personalized goods, not to mention her custom stationery and invitation lines. Modern preppy chic at it’s best.

Okay, can we talk about this custom wallpaper for a second? Dabney, you genius!

Comprehensive New York / Brooklyn section of course!

Dabney’s shop is so cheery and happy! Colors and patterns (literally) wall to wall.

Party supplies up the wazoo!

Dabney even designs wrapping paper. Yes please.

Pup friendly of course.

We asked Dabney for a peak into her noggin and here’s what she had to say:

1. What has been your favorite thing about opening your shop?

Getting to know everyone in my little neighborhood. I love seeing clients come in when pregnant and then meeting their little ones after they arrive, or helping engaged couples with their wedding days! It’s been really fun to grow with the neighborhood and become a part of the community.

2. How do you balance being a mommy and a business owner?

I try really hard to balance being a mommy + a business owner. However, I know that I fall short from time to time, but that is just part of being who I am and what I do. I’d be lying if I said it was perfect all of the time. I purposely opened my shop 2 blocks from our home so that my kiddos can pop in to see me during the day for a quick hug and kiss!

3. What is your guilty pleasure?

Definitely fried chicken. My grandmother makes the best fried chicken in the world, and I am so happy she taught me her recipe!

4. What’s up next for Dabney Lee?

The launch of our tech line and pet line- due in stores this summer! Our planners and calendars will be in Target again this summer, and we are super excited about our designs. I think our clients will fall in love with the lines, we definitely have!

5. If you could be anyone else for a day, who would it be?

It would definitely have to be my son Bennett. That kid is a wacko. I’d love to know what goes on in that little head of his, like why he thinks he absolutely needs to have pirate booty for breakfast or why he thinks running around naked is the best thing ever!

You’ve gotta go visit Dabney Lee, people! Your brain will explode from the awesomeness.

If you can’t make it to Brooklyn or Shelter Island, be sure to check out Dabney’s ONLINE SHOP and BLOG. Keep up with Dabney on INSTAGRAM, TWITTER, FACEBOOK, and PINTEREST.

Dabney, we want it all!

December 12, 2013

THAT’S A WRAP! [PART 2]

As if receiving a gift from someone isn’t enough to make you feel special already, we think that it takes it over the top when its wrapped with love. Just knowing that someone really took some time to add a decorative ornament, layer some ribbon to make the perfect bow, or even just writing your name out really beautifully makes it feel that much more special to receive.

We absolutely believe that what is inside the box is made even better by the wrapping. We have some pretty creative friends, and it’s always fun around the holidays to give and receive each other’s gifts! Here are some packages that got a holiday makeover during our wrap party. Believe it or not, postal wrap and baker’s twine go a long way!! So simple, but it looks so stunning. Most of the ribbon we used was found in the Target dollar section, along with some metallic markers and ornament embellishments. We also purchased some clear ornaments to fill with glitter, jewels and snow. They would look awesome filled with confetti too. OBVIOUSLY! Ha!

We had so much fun, and highly encourage you to get together with some friends or just members of your family and wrap together! Turn on some holiday tunes and sip some hot chocolate (after your champagne) and make some super special memories.