It all started with Groupon… followed by a host of copycat sites. Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE my daily deals. Getting restaurant meals for much less than it would ordinarily cost, finding new places to treat the kids to a cheap bouncy land day out, or grabbing a subscription to a favorite children’s magazine at a fraction of the cost all make me very happy indeed.  But I’ve gotten a little tired of spending my hard earned money on more of the same old, same old for myself, my friends, and my family.

As money seems tighter (and the house feels more crowded with plastic toys and unused games), I have become much more picky about what I am willing to spend my money on.  I have particularly struggled with the concept of buying gifts just for the sake of giving something for holidays or special occasions.  I much prefer to give something special, something that will be used regularly, something that will be appreciated and something that can’t be found at every Toys R Us.

The reality is, though, I just don’t have the time to search out that 1 unique item that is perfect for that special person in my life-never mind 3 kids, a husband, sister, nieces and nephews, grandparents, the babysitter, and dear friends.

Enter The Daily Grommet.

The Daily Grommet actually seeks out those never seen before, “isn’t that cool, where did you ever find it” type gifts and sends an email with one to me every day as a gentle nudge.  The real beauty is that it’s not just the most interesting products they present, their criteria also requires the companies that manufacture these products also treat their customers right.  Unusual products that actually deliver and customer service to boot? Now, I know I’ve died and gone to retail heaven-without leaving the house!

So, exactly what is a ‘Daily Grommet” and why do I want one more email in my reading list logjam you want to know?  The company defines a grommet (yes, the silver ring in the top of your shower curtain that the hooks go through) as, “a wonderful product still waiting in the wings, just ripe for discovery. It comes from a designer, or inventor, or artist or manufacturer who is clearly passionate about what they create.”

The products featured are not just whimsical artsy fartsy creations.  They are practical, innovative, and will be used!

Last Christmas I gave the boys a game called Yikerz from this site.  A game of skill for players aged 5 to 105 with over sized magnets that snap together if you place them too close to one another on the customizable game board – all self contained in a little zippered pouch.  It was the hit of the holiday for under $10! Everyone wanted in on the action.  We had mini tournaments while people were waiting for dinner to be served, played a quick game before running errands, and still pull it out for something to do that doesn’t involved electronics.

The Daily Grommet isn’t limited to gift ideas.

They also have customizable chalkboard wall calendars (who couldn’t use that-I could use 2), responsibility systems for setting up chore charts, goal setting, and money handling for kids, and they even have a category for natural and organic products that includes Autoimmunetherapy Elderberry Syrup from Maine Medicinals and luxurious Alpaca Pillows.  If you’re feeling generous, the staff has thoughtfully selected a number of charities to which you can either donate directly or purchase a truly unique gift product that benefits a particular population for as little as $10.

I’m particularly fond of the necklaces from “Falling Whistles, The Sound of Hope” for $34.  Want to know more about any of the products or the history behind the manufacturer? Each Grommet description is accompanied by an online video telling the story.

So, if your email is overcrowded with deals that just distract you, I say, dump the duplicates and sign up for the Daily Grommet.  You’ll have your gift shopping done in no time (and a few special treats for yourself)!

I’m in a big nail painting phase right now and was craving some variety in place of my usual pinks.  I found this beautiful shade of blue at Rite-Aid.

Today I was in Walgreen’s and spotted these little cuties:

These colors have a thin tiny brush perfect for adding decorative accents to your nails. Like this:

Cute or what?

They had a huge variety of colors, I wish I’d thought to snap a pic of the display.

I picked this up at Rite Aid today.  LOVE the color.

Note: you will need a top coat to make it look shiny like mine.

I couldn’t find this color on Amazon but they do have several others: Sinful Colors

As parents, we are bombarded with choices regarding all facets of parenting from diapering to feeding to clothing our children. When it comes to how they learn and play, Melissa & Doug provides us the luxury of turning to one brand to give our children safe, quality toys.

From newborns to older children, Melissa & Doug has toys that enhance the fun of playtime by simultaneously developing fine motor, artistic, cognitive and other important developmental skills.

One of my son’s favorite toys is still his Chomp and Clack Alligator Push Toy. As a first birthday present, it helped assure him of his confidence to walk while providing him an attractively bright toy with animated sounds to spark his interest. Nine months later and a fully confident walker, he still enjoys pushing his Chomp and Clack around the house, only 50mph faster than before!

An Alternative To Plastic

As a mom, I love that I am providing my son with toys that help his development and won’t turn my home into a loud, plastic jungle. Other favorites of his include the Large Farm Jumbo Knob Puzzle and the Alphabet Nesting and Stacking Blocks.

Sign up for the Melissa & Doug Newsletter and receive 10% off your order at MelissaAndDoug.com! Be the first to hear about new products and special promotions!

Also, get FREE SHIPPING on all orders of $50 or more now at MelissaAndDoug.com! Use Code: FREESHIPFIFTY!

We were given an opportunity to select and review a product offered via Pro Home Stores and I selected this beautiful brass and enamel birdbath.  I knew it would look fantastic in my sister’s front garden area – and it does!

I’m hesitant about ordering some things online and wondered if this birdbath would be ‘flimsy’.  Turns out it’s solidly built and really gorgeous in person.  There is an ‘L’ shape welded on at the ground that keeps the birdbath from twisting around and tipping over.

This is what my sis had to say: “It was easy to put together – just two items to thread together and then just stick it in the ground. The color red is excellent for butterflies also – and it is shallow enough for them too!”

Now that I’ve experienced the quality of Pro Home Store products, I would not hesitate to order from them again.

This Quinny Zapp X-tra in the bold Q-Design has many elements of today's trends.

We’re proud to have another great guest post from Stroller Expert Amy Tanathorn.

If you haven’t needed to look at strollers until recently, you’re in for a big surprise. Lots of newly pregnant moms I know still think that the big bulky, frilly stroller is their only option.

Well have I got news! Strollers over the last few years have grown increasingly sophisticated with more options, features and functionality. Not to mention better colors and style!

Revealed are the top stroller trends today competing for your attention.

LIGHT WEIGHT

Technology has given way to lighter aluminum that is just as strong as steel. Joovy is a brand that uses aircraft-grade aluminum for their frame. UPPAbaby and Maclaren strollers are super lightweight yet balanced enough to hang your purse on the handle.

Moms are tired of lugging around a heavy stroller in and out of the car trunk or off and on public transportation. Double strollers already carry up to 90 pounds of child plus gear. Add to that the weight of the stroller itself and you’ve got a tank!

Nowadays though, you regularly see full-featured strollers weighing under 20 pounds and umbrella strollers as light as 7 pounds.

This aluminum withstands a heavy weight, too. Many of these incredibly light strollers have an astonishing weight capacity. For example, the Mountain Buggy Urban Jungle is an all terrain stroller that weighs only 24 pounds, yet can carry up to 77 pounds! Yes, that’s a single stroller, not a double!

SINGLE WHEELS

A few years ago when Bugaboo came onto the scene and was setting trends left and right, one of the looks most copied is the single wheel. Look at most of your traditional Graco/Evenflo/Combi strollers and they have double wheels in front and back for better stability and suspension.

But many of the higher-end lines like Inglesina and Peg Perego strollers began using sealed ball bearings in their single wheel models to smooth out the ride. A glide is more how it is described by moms who swoon over this style. (I swoon, too; they look beautiful!)

This trend has caught on with mass producer Graco who has the new UrbanLite, a single wheel lightweight model that has that high-end look for far less.

DECKED-OUT SUN CANOPIES

I was always disappointed in the sun canopies in most strollers. The sun would always shine at just that angle that would always get right into my child’s eyes.

Luxury strollers first offered enormous sun canopies, creating paneled or ratcheting hoods that extend over your child down to the snack tray or over the lap area. This feature became an instant favorite and now many brands have a stroller with this feature. Often times the panel zips up to stay tidy and compact until needed. Others types simply ratchet into place, like BOB strollers. You’ll also see pop-out sun visors, a-la UPPAbaby or Phil and Ted.

Another trend I’ve noticed on sun canopies is the peek-a-boo window getting larger. Many of them are no longer clear vinyl windows but mesh netting. I like this because it allows better air flow and it won’t crack, split or discolor after a few years.

The flaps covering these peek a boo windows have magnetic closures in higher-end brands. Magnetic closures are nice because there’s no Velcro rip sound to wake your baby when you check in.

REVERSING SEAT

This is perhaps the biggest stroller trend over the last couple of years. Also called a convertible stroller, the reversing, removable seat allows for greater seating flexibility. You can:

• Install your car seat right on the stroller frame
• Use a bassinet (some seats transform into bassinets)
• Have your baby face you in the seat
• Have baby face the outside world in the seat
• Some models have a doubles option, adding a rumble seat in the rear

A convertible stroller is the solution for parents who want a travel system without the bulk and with a lot more style.

BUMPER BARS

A fashionable, sleek look is in, and that oftentimes means no snack tray for your child. Padded bumper bars are used instead. Sometimes your child has little pockets within the seating “cabin” to hold little toys or snacks. Other brands offer a snack tray separately.

The same sleek look can also mean no parent console or cup holder, which is a huge bummer to moms and dads who like to have a cup of coffee during their outings. So this trend is getting mixed feedback and some brands have re-introduced a cup holder.

BLACK FRAMES

Ah, that sleek look again. Black stroller frames are very much in fashion right now. Quinny has their models in black or the traditional silver and their new Moodd even has a white frame with some color choices. It’s all about making a statement with bright bold fabric colors coupled with a frame in anything but silver.

So what do YOU think about these new trends?

Amy Tanathorn researches the best baby strollers at Stroller Envy, where you can read in-depth reviews for UPPAbaby, Baby Jogger, Phil & Teds, Quinny and more. Reviews include video demonstrations, product specs, photos and detailed descriptions.