MumsTheWurdUnique finds for hip parents and cool kids

And that would mean, we’ve started making our lists, and checking them twice…What do you want for Christmas?  How about your little ones or your baby?  Not sure?  Why make it too hard on yourself?  We know you’re busy!  Here’s a few ideas to help you out.  Everything on this list has withstood the test of all the members of my family, and they all get the Noel & Lennon, Elliott & Laura Seal of Approval-ENJOY!*

Unique Boutiques!

Munchkin Designs

Munchkin Designs offers paper goods & gifts.  Check the Fabulous Gifts section for a 12 Days of Christmas Celebration!  Get this shirt, or one for the holidays!  Lots more to see at this awesome little boutique!

Bee Simple

Bee Simple has adorable shirts like this cute “Go Green“, not to mention loads of lotions, balms, and chai!  Load up all your favorite people with wonderful, earth-friendly, hand-made products from Bee Simple!

 Prosh Wear

Need a mommy calling card?  Baby blanket?  Recipe cards?  This unique boutique is every new mom’s one stop shop!

nonny & boo

Our favorite sling store now carries all sorts of fun treats!  Clothes, plushies, and, of course, the amazing slings and wraps.  Check all the awesome eco products too!   Get 15% off + FREE SHIPPING on purchases over $50 with the Coupon Code MUMS from now until Dec. 23, 2008.

Umbrella Shoppe

Is there a collector in your life?  Visit The Umbrella Shoppe to find that Brady Bunch Novella for your quirky aunt!  Want your kid to have that Wonderbug coloring book you used to have?  Chances are, you’ll find it under the umbrella.

Fun & Games (and MAYBE a contest or two)!

eeBoo

eeBoo has some of the most fanciful games and toys I’ve seen.  I just love the style, and we love our robot game!

“eeBoo is about producing beautiful, useful and well-made products for children.

Using only the original art of well-known and well-loved children’s book illustrators we create vibrantly original toys and gifts that hopefully children will affectionately remember.”

WIN IT!  Win a Build A Robot Game for your munchkin!  Enter HERE and tell us your favorite childhood game!  Contest runs through 12/10/08, 10 PM CST.

Briarpatch

Briarpatch has tons of games, puzzles, and card games!  Find something for any age!

Learning Tower

We absolutely love our Learning Tower.  Noel probably uses this every single day.  He enjoys helping with the cooking, and standing in the safe Learning Tower, he is as high up as I am, in a contained, secure way!  It doubles as a playhouse too!  Now, add the latest addition to the Learning Tower-the art easel.  Just look how fun it is!  This magnetized dry-erase/chalkboard is a huge hit!

WIN IT!  Win a Learning Tower & Art Easel!  Enter HERE and tell us how you’d use the Learning Tower!  Contest runs through 12/10/08, 10 PM CST.

Fun for the Whole Fam Damiy:

Nintendo Wii

Let me preface this by saying that I am NOT a video game person.  Pac Man is about as advanced as I get, so the Wii has never intrigued me too much.  That is, until I started hearing about it ad nauseam from everyone on the planet.  I had to see what the fuss was all about…and we’re here to tell you, the Wii is so. much. fun!  The big buzz around the Wii is that it will get you moving, instead of sitting like a slug watching TV or playing video games.  It does!  We love the Sports package that’s included with the system a ton.  Play tennis for 30 minutes, and you’ll wake up sore in the morning!  BUY A Wii!

The other “game” that we have enjoyed is the Wii Fit.  In this, you actually work out-jogging, hula-hoop (my personal fave), snowboarding, yoga, and so much more.  The fit also helps you learn to balance, weighs you, shows you your BMI, weight, etc.  For a “game” the Wii Fit is really amazing!  BUY A Wii FIT!

The littler ones will enjoy playing baseball with Mario Super Sluggers.  This is another great way to keep your kids busy when it’s too cold (or in our case, sometimes, too hot!) to play outside.  BUY MARIO SUPER SLUGGERS! 

EPSON Artisan 800

I’ve never gotten too excited about a printer…until now.  This printer can print coloring pages, scan, improve faded pictures, fax, print better than lab quality photos, and more.  I am honestly amazed at the quality of the photos…see for yourself.  This all-in-one from Epson is it.  For more information about the Artisan 800, please click here.

*Image borrowed from this site!

*Update: Congratulations to HEATHER, our Olive Kid’s “Get personalized for the fourth” giveaway!  She has been notified via email.  Heather is going to be BBQ’ing and watching the local fireworks this fourth!

Olive Kids (one of my favorite boutiques) has some really fun personalized items available for the upcoming fourth of July holiday. If you’re heading out on picnics or to the summer cottage on the lake (like we are), pick up one of Olive Kid’s festive, personalized placemats.

I’m sure you’ll be toting around a bunch of swim gear, so name tags are a must. We’ve been talking about what your favorite summer reads are, so it’s a given that your kiddo should have a personalized bookmark to hold his or her place while they’re out romping around in the waves. Finally, when it’s time for that cookout, they’ll know exactly where their place at the picnic table is with their own personalized placemat.

Olive Kids would LOVE to give you a “Get Personalized for the Fourth” prize package!

One lucky MTW reader will receive a personalized name tag, bookmark and placemat of your choice…just in time for the Fourth of July holiday!

TO ENTER:

Leave a comment on this post and let us know if you have any special plans this Fourth of July. If you’re just planning on lounging around at home and catching the neighborhood fireworks - that works too!

A winner will be chosen randomly on Sunday, June 22nd and notified via email. Bloggers and non-bloggers are welcome to enter. This contest is open to residents of the continental U.S. We will announce the winner on this post.

Good luck!

What does one get for someone about to become a mom? How about a Wishing Well memory maker from Zinke Designs? This unique gift can be used for many occasions, but the birth of a baby is a perfect one! Use this lovely box of note cards to have friends and family share their wishes for your family on the arrival of your new bundle of joy. This special gift comes with 150 cards, a pen, and a keepsake box complete with a customizable photo area for the special occasion.

My sister did something similar for me when I had my first baby. It’s great to go back and look at all of the wishes, dreams, and hopes that our loved ones have for our family. What a special way to commemorate such a wonderful time! Find the perfect design for your special mum here.

When Noel was born, I loved all the flowers we received, however, while they are beautiful, flowers are hard to take care of when you have a newborn. Not to mention, they die! If you want to give a bouquet that is not only beautiful, but also useful, consider giving BabyBlooms!

As you can see, BabyBlooms look like a gorgeous bouquet of flowers, but they serve an even better purpose! Within each flower, you’ll find a full layette of clothes for your new baby! I was sent one for Lennon, and although he is not yet here, I can’t wait to see these adorable clothes on him! This bouquet comes with one sleeper, two onesies, two bibs, a burp cloth, 3 pairs of socks, a pair of newborn mittens, and a reversible hat.

These items are not the flimsy, thin clothes you buy three to a pack at your local big box store either-they’re all made of thick, sturdy cotton, and it appears that they will hold up nicely. They’re also for 0-4 months, so babes won’t grow out of them right away, like most clothes you get in a layette! They come in boy, girl, and neutral styles, and they offer several price ranges too. You can also pick up a little something for the mum, if you’re so inclined. If you have other questions, check out their Customer Information page.

I’ll be sure to post pictures when we actually get to use our BabyBlooms in a couple of months. I’ll definitely be bringing my “bouquet” of new clothes along to the hospital!

Snobby Babies gives your baby the latest in tiny couture, from chic fabric slip covers for your Baby Bjorn/Snuggli to designer inspired bibs and clothing.

I just received a groovy Snobby bib, burp cloth, and travel wipe holder gift set in one of my favorite patterns: DOTS! I really love the fabric that they offer on all their bib sets. Now for the burp cloth and wipe holder, both of which I immediately put in my diaper bag (the burp cloth will work great for emergencies or big messes at restaurants). Take a look! Awesome, no?

(click photo to enlarge)I know! He looks completely ADORABLE. Isn’t it cute? I think chenille is one of the greatest fabrics EVER for babies and kids, so I was dually impressed that the bib and burp cloth are lined with it. I’ll definitely be ordering these sets for baby showers! Snobby Babies has tons of other great gift sets to fit any budget.

And now for the girliest of girl items…the Fairytale Princess Tutu Set! You should have heard the ear piercing squeal that I let out when I received the tutu set. Took me less than three seconds to slap that baby upon my little princess. She, too, looks quite adorable I must say. =)

(click photo to enlarge)This is one of the prettiest tutus that I have seen around. The little flower on the front is just darling and makes it very unique. Its elastic band makes it a “grow-with-me” piece and that gets top ratings in our household.

Snobbybabies.com offers many more stylish items (hats, shoes, diaper bags to name a few). Get on over there and make sure your little one is dressed to impress!

~Laura & Amy~

If you’re looking for something that everyone else has, then Baby Dagny is not for you. HOWEVER, if you’re looking for some cool baby stuff that everyone else will WANT, then stop by Baby Dagny. They offer some of the most adorable designer outfits around.

They also have an array of cute little accessories, such as these plush pacifiers (above) that were included in the Oscar gift bags for the celebrities. I don’t know about your babies but the only pacifier mine would take was the green plastic one from the hospital. That’s exactly what is attached to these snuggly little animals.

We’re talking PERFECT shower gift here ladies (and gents). They come beautifully packaged for you and are sure to be a hit. All of the other babies will have pacifier envy!

Baby Dagny was founded by Andrea McGinty, who is the proud mama to baby “Dagny” herself. The boutique specializes in carrying items from small mom and pop shops around the world. Andrea is doing these shops a great service by providing one place for all of us to find them. Baby Dagny products are especially made for newborns and babies up to 24 months.

Know someone who’s expecting? Here are Baby Dagny’s Top 5 Shower Gifts:

1. Purple Frog Pacifier Set
2. Timboo Bamboo Towels, Washcloths and Robes
3. Brights & Stripes Blankets and Sleepers
4. Beauty & the Bib Strawberry Bib
5. Doomoo Seat

Some other things I’d like to tell you about Babydagny.com, they offer gift certificates, a gift registry (which, if you fill one out and tell 10 friends, they will give you a free gift. They also have a weekly PHOTO CONTEST, so get over there and submit your cutie’s photo for a chance to win a $20 gift certificate! Winners are drawn on a weekly basis.

…and if all of that isn’t enough, you’ve GOT to check out all of their clearance items. There are some great buys and I’ll be heading back to their site after this post is up to do some clearance shopping of my own! They’re offering an ADDITIONAL 20% off all clearance items this week only (to May 14th at midnight)

Welcome to our Gift Ideas section! We thought it would be fun to put together a list of unique gift ideas for mom’s, expecting moms, kids and babies. Hopefully this list helps you in your search for that “perfect” gift.

Remember, these are only our ideas. The prices or availability of these items are subject to change without our knowing. You’ll have to check the website of the specific item to find out if it’s available. While you’re there, you might just come across something else that you think would make a unique gift! Please feel free to EMAIL us to make us aware of any changes in price, sales or discontinuation of products we have listed.

*Click on any item to be directed to the company’s website.

(List sorted by price, lowest to highest)

Dillyheart
Handpainted Ceramics - $6

Rockabye Baby
Lullaby Rendition Albums (Beatles, Beach Boys, Cold Play, Nirvana, etc. - $16.98

Little Showoffs
Tees - $17

Punk-N-Pie
Travel Basics-Bee - $18.50

MeMo, Inc.
Onesies - $20-$22

Ambajam
Burp Cloth Bundles (set of 2) - $22

Fat Brain Toys
Dado Cubes - $24.95

The Milkman
Onesies & Tees - $20-$26

BabyBearShop
Organic Gift Sets - $25

Kid Central Kicthen
Rise & Shine Breakfast Gift Box - $25.99

IsaBooties - $26

Little Uni
Personalized Tees/Onesies - $26-$32

Miracle Blanket - $29.95

Jasper Hearts Wren
Onesies (Felts, prints & screen) - $30

Il Cocco Di Mamma
Wooden Blocks - $35

Hand Picked Pumpkin
Hand Picked Gift Set - $36

Punk-N-Pie
Baby Legs (set of 3) - $36

Baby Dagny
Plush Frog Pacifier (6-pk) - $37.50 (50% off. reg. $75 until 8/6/07)

See Kai Run
Shoes - $35-$38

Boon, Inc.
Frog Pod & Bath Goods - $39.99

Punk-N-Pie
Baby Basics Gift Pack - $44

Boon, Inc.
Animal Bag - $59.99

Little Showoffs
Toddler Bag - $79

Rockin’ Kid Shop
Pouches/Slings - $82-$102

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• Outside Baby, LLC
• Coco Bonbons
• FlipClips, Inc.
• Pink Taffy Designs
• Names2U - personalized items!
• Grandparent’s Magazine
• Personalization Mall