Stylist Suggests Headbands As A Holiday Gift

I just read an article online in the Los Angeles Times Entertainment section that I found very interesting!!

Hollywood stylist Tara Swennen is suggesting embellished headbands as a great holiday gift. I have to say, I totally agree with her!

This is what she said:

-- Accessories: Whether it be a satin clutch, a sequined beanie, a jeweled belt or an embellished headband, accessories are great gifts, as sizing is generally not required. Knit scarves and gloves are also safe bets during the holiday season.

To see the rest of the article, click here.

It just so happens, I posted some new headband designs on my ETSY shop. Here's a couple:

Skinny Minnie

and the wide version

packaged in organza gift bags

If you want to check out the others, pop on over to the TCG ETSY Shop.

Happy Headbands!!

Gift Show Pics

This past Saturday I did my last holiday gift show at my daughter's school in Riverdale. It was a very festive event - music playing, great holiday decorations, fun activities for the kids, lots of snacks, and great vendors.

Wanted to share some pics of my display. I had an assortment of items.

Accordion photo books,

headbands,

gift tags, soapy pops, and sparkly accessories. It's funny how for each show you never know what's going to be the popular item. This time it was the headbands, another time it was the books. Keeps me on my toes!

I decided not to show the personalized chocolate bars this time. Just not enough room on my table!

There were a few other vendors that stood out that I wanted to mention.

Sam Noronha - great original framed artwork using alcohol ink.

Besides being a fine artist, she's also a craft artist. She makes magnets and necklaces out of dominos. She had a cute little penguin that I couldn't resist. My little one LOVES penguins!

At these shows there's always a ton of jewelry vendors. There was a woman there named Rina S. Young. Her sterling silver jewelry really stood out from the crowd.

She made every piece! Amazing!! You can find some of her beautiful creations online at Artful Home.

Turns out she's also a city girl. I knew I liked her.

PS 24 Holiday Gift & Craft Fair

I can't believe it's already here, but this Saturday is the last holiday gift & craft fair I'll be doing for the season.

Here's the flyer:

So, if you just happen to be in Riverdale, looking for an activity for your kids, or just want to get out...or want to see ME, stop by!!

I'll have my stylin' headbands, cool photo books, personalized chocolate bars, soapy pops, purse keychains and more!

A Wednesday Night In The City

Last night I was supposed to attend a Learning Annex class in the city. After trekking down there by subway, almost about a minute after reaching street level, I get a call from the hubbs saying they cancelled the class!!

Yes, I was a bit annoyed. I was really looking forward to the class. But hey, I was STILL in the city, right?!? Gotta make the best of it. :)

Move on to Plan B.

My friend asked me to pick up a few things for her at the AmericanGirl store. There's one on 5th Avenue so that was going to be my first stop. That store is huge!!! All I can say is I am soooo glad my girls haven't discovered these dolls yet. Let's hope the Barbie phase lasts a while longer. Like years!!

Next stop Pinky's Salon on 6th Avenue to get my eyebrows threaded. 7 bucks. 2 minutes. Done.

Then I met my friend Justin and we ended up going to the Bryant Park Holiday Market. I was there last week but just had to go back. I LOVE it!!! Please please please if you are in the city this holiday, you MUST stop by!! The atmosphere is so festive! You can even go ice skating and it won't break the bank - only about $12 or so.

We headed right over to the Max Brenner booth. This is also a must!! We each had a cup of their thick Italian Hot Chocolate. It was INSANE!!!! We both stopped after the first sip and just looked at each other. All we could say was "whoa!!"

This was chocolate that had to be sipped s l o w l y. You have to savor every little drop. You can feel the thick warm chocolate making it's way throughout your body - just warming up your insides. So delicious!!

You know how I love packaging? Well, they had this product that I thought was so creative. It was a chocolate syringe!! Really - a big plastic syringe filled with melted chocolate so each time you need a fix, you squirt a shot in your mouth.


Pure genius.

Well, that was my Wednesday night.

Oh yeah, except for the part where afterwards he also took me to a friend's holiday office party. I know the friend, but I wasn't invited.

Does that officially make me a party crasher??

Winter Wonderland Gift Tags

I have my last holiday craft show of the season coming up this Saturday December 12th here in Riverdale. I always get a burst of creativity just before each event. It's a good time to showcase something new.

As I may have mentioned before, I have a little problem. Actually, it may not be that little anymore. It seems to be growing and growing by the minute.

I am completely obsessed with paper and ribbon!!

There - I said it. It's all out in the open now.

Yes, I know, weird right?!? Not chocolate, or food, or alcohol, or shoes.

Paper and ribbon.

That's what does it for me. I have soooo much and I can't stop myself from getting more. I'll give you a peak at some of my stash but let me tell you - this is a teeny tiny snippet of what I actually have. I can't show you everything. It's just too soon in our relationship. We're still in that La-La stage. Let's wait till we get a little more comfortable with each other. Then forget it, all my secrets will start flowing out. For now, this is all you get.

Paper...

and ribbon.

I just can't take it.

So, since I was looking around at my mounds of paper, I decided to make something new. I started making some really sweet gift tags. I love packaging and making things look special. I can't help it. It's in my blood. I may not have a gift basket biz anymore, but I can't seem to tear myself away from packaging.

I have some wintry themed paper with cool colors of blue and green. Each set comes with 5 different designs.

I think I may bring some with me to the gift fair this Saturday. I also added some to my ETSY shop.

If you're in the Riverdale area on Saturday, stop by and say hello!

Here's the info:

Holiday Gift & Craft Fair
PS24
660 West 236th Street
Riverdale, NY 10463
Saturday December 12th - noon to 4pm

Butternut Squash

I bet you're thinking I'm going to give you some great butternut squash recipe to try just in time for Thanksgiving tomorrow, right?!?

Nope - nothing to do with food. What then you ask is Butternut Squash, if not a food item?

A paint color. A paint color I thought I wanted to use on my dining room walls. A paint color that looked really pretty on the swatch under the lights at Home Depot. A paint color I bought and now regret.

We decided a while ago we wanted to paint our dining area. The walls were disgusting already - filled with fingerprints from 2 little girls that love to paint, eat their dinner with their fingers, and use anything other than their napkins to wipe their hands with. Well, that white wall met its match and lost.

I was going for that earthy look. Every time I eat at Panera I notice how much I like their color scheme. The walls are a nice earthy yellow color, nice black & white photos hanging on the walls, dark wood furniture. I want that look for my dining area.

We bought the paint about a month ago and it's been sitting in our closet just waiting to be used. Since we're having Thanksgiving at our place this year, that's just the push we needed to get that room painted. That, and the fact that my in laws were coming. It's always different when your in laws come over, Ever notice that? My mom knows me. She knows I can be a "little" messy from time to time. Who am I kidding - ok, a lot messy, a lot of the time, but who's counting?!? So, there's a little dust here, maybe even more dust there, but she's OK with it. She's used to it. Now that my in laws will be coming, we have less than 24 hours to clean this place up!! So, why am I spending time blogging?? Oh, yeah - the paint.

Here's what the walls looked like just as we were getting ready to paint:

Try to ignore my messy kitchen please.

Let's open up that can now - nice - looking normal so far.

Until, we start to paint and I notice I need my sunglasses!!! What happened to the nice butternut squash color?? The hubbs wanted to put 2 coats. OK - maybe it will darken it.

Nope - still need my shades. As the light changes during the day, it goes from a "taxicab yellow" to "school bus yellow" and now even an orange color. My girls asked "Mama, why did you paint the walls orange? We want pink." I think I'd settle for pink now also.

Only 3 days until Turkey Day!! So, yesterday I decided I have to live with it until at least after Thanksgiving so i went out and bought a new tablecloth and candles.

It helped a bit but definitely not the look I want. My whole dining room needs a complete overhaul!! Too much to think about when I've got to start cooking.

And cleaning.

And I'm definitely not making butternut squash this year.

Splish Splash My Girls Are Loving Their Bath

I'm a big fan of a craft show on the HGTV Network called Craft Lab. It's hosted by Jennifer Perkins of Naughty Secretary Club. She's a super crafty, fun, successful jewelry maker. Definitely check out her blog. She always has lots of fun crafty projects and really useful info on having and running a craft business. I am a devoted reader!!

On one episode they had an artisan soapmaker named Debbie Chialtas from Soapylove. The soaps she made were so darn cute!! I just couldn't stand it!! They're called Soapy Pops because they are made to look like ice cream on a stick. How creative is that?!? After the show I immediately ran to my computer to do a search on her company. Her website was filled with so many colorful and yummy looking soap designs. I just had to have some!! I bought them, and loved them.

Now I am so happy to announce that we have them at Total City Girl as well, and can share them with you.

Here are the designs I currently have:

Mint Chocolate Chip (my little one's favorite)

Candy Carousel (my big girl's favorite)


Neapolitan


Peace, Love & Soapiness


Nilla Sammie


and Candy Cane


My girls absolutely loved these soaps!! When my order came in I let them choose one each. They literally RAN to take a bath!! That's the power of soapy pops. :)

These soaps are great for all ages from children to adults. They would make great stocking stuffers, party favors, or what the heck, you can even get one for yourself.

Sounds like a plan.

If you want to score yourself some of these sweet treats, you can visit me at the next Holiday Fair I'll be doing this Sunday at:

Visitation Church
160 Van Cortlandt Park S.
Bronx, NY 10463
Sunday November 22 - 9am to 3pm

or shoot me an e-mail to stacey@TotalCityGirl.com. They are $8 each. Sorry I don't have them online yet!!

Gotta go pry my kid out of the tub. She's turning into a prune!!