What the Mayans got right: hot chocolate
Well, we here are beyond happy to know that the world is still around today, Mayan calendar apocalypse warnings notwithstanding. It would be so wrong for it all to end before we get a chance to dig into Season 3 of Downton Abbey. So we were thinking, if you've got a...
O, joy! The sweetest aromatherapy of the season
Several years ago, we introduced you to a new line of wonderful aromatherapy-based skin care products from hellomellow. All this time later, I still really like their body butter--and the room spray, which I've used more than once in my girls' room to "ensure good...
Snowflakes for Sandy Hook
I just got wind of the most beautiful idea - a group putting together a mountain of handmade snowflakes from children everywhere, to help decorate the new halls of the brand new school where the Sandy Hook elementary students will be returning after the holidays. The...
Hey, good-looking! 10 attractive gift cards you’ll be glad to give
We admit it, we're not the biggest fans of gift cards as holiday gifts. It can seem somewhat last minute and impersonal. Then again, there are some great gift cards out there, and if it's for the right store or service, a gift card may be exactly what your loved one...
Heifer International gifts: Buy the cow. And the goat, and the flock of chicks.
We love end-of-year charitable donations (or any time of year) to deserving organizations, and we've always been fans of Heifer International. Especially now that they've made it even easier to help a family take care of itself through your donation--and it happens to...
10 easy, edible holiday gifts that kids can help make
Shipping time is running out and shopping time is ticking down, but there's still plenty of time to whip up an edible gift handmade with love. These holiday treats are easy enough to make with the kids' help--and so much easier than dragging them through crowded...
DIY Star Wars LEGO ornaments: perfect for your Hothmas tree
This is no mere ornament. It's a LEGO ornament. A LEGO Star Wars ornament that you can DIY. And it's going to look great hanging on your tree, along with a LEGO Millenium Falcon and TIE Fighter. Besides, isn't pew pew pew more fun than ho ho ho? These three sweet Star...
You don’t need a blue Easy-Bake Oven to get boys to bake
Although Easy-Bake ovens are now coming out with "boy-friendly" versions (what, girls don't like blue?), there have always been lots of options for boys to cook--really cook--with the help of great products and cookbooks for kids. Handstand Kids is a longtime favorite...
Coffee gifts? Don’t mind if I do. Give, I mean.
I admit it. I used to settle for a cup of coffee from just about anywhere, then quickly douse it with milk and sweetener. Then I had a proper cup of joe, which was like the pigeon describing a hot dog to the duck in Mo Willem's beloved The Pigeon Finds a Hot Dog:...
Cinnamon candies! Pear + clove candies! Bergamot candies! Papabubble…you’re killing me
While there's no shortage of ideas for food gifts around the holidays (we even have six of them you can make yourself, in our Holiday Gift Guide), here's one more I absolutely adore. But no, you can't make them yourself. And that's okay. If you're not familiar with...