Lois Loves - Personalized Hoodies

A friend of mine was recently talking about getting an engagement gift for a newly engaged couple. I immediately thought she could get the couple champagne flutes. However, a few days later, I came across the Boy Meets Girl Hoody and knew it would make a perfect engagement or anniversary gift. Granted, it's not the fanciest engagement gift, but it's certainly unique and memorable. This fun hoody is made out of cotton fleece and comes in several great colors (grey w/black, light blue w/navy, white w/gold, & black w/pink) . When you order the hoody(s), write the names of the recipients in the gift note box and the names will be printed on the hoody(s). Purchase at Ravinstyle for $100.

Lois Loves - Weekend Handbags

Since its starting to get warmer, I decided to visit the Gap and purchase some casual short-sleeved shirts. You can always count on the Gap for inexpensive casual clothing. And, in recent years, the Gap has extended its inventory to include other great products such as handbags. As soon as I walked into the women's section, my eyes were immediately drawn to one handbag in particular. I fell in love with the Large Rope Hobo. This hobo is an ideal handbag for the weekend. It's made out of durable cotton canvas and comes in either brown or khaki. And, it's now on sale for $69.99. Purchase this bag quickly before supplies run out. It's the perfect "just because" gift for a friend.

Lois Loves - Small Leather Goods

I never used to be a fan of wallets. For a couple of years I didn't use a wallet, but then I got tired of stuffing my money into the pockets of my handbags. A few years ago, I finally broke down and bought a small wallet. Recently, I decided I needed to upgrade to a really nice wallet. I turned to Kate Spade and found a really great wallet in her collection. I absolutely love the Jane Street Peggy wallet . It has a coin purse, a retractable wristlet handle, and is a great color. It's the perfect birthday gift. You can purchase the Jane Street Peggy wallet at Kate Spade for $225.

Lois Loves - Marc by Marc Jacobs Watches

I've been on the hunt for a great watch for the past few months. I've seen a lot of contenders, but I wasn't really inspired until I came across the Marc by Marc Jacobs watch collection. The designer stays true to his whimsical, fun, and unique design aesthetic with these great timepieces.

The Star Charm Watch Bracelet does double duty as both a watch and jewelry. It's a perfect college graduation gift. $200.

The Heart Pendant Watch is a timely way to say "I love you". $125.

Music aficionados will surely love the Roxy Guitar Watch. $150.

Lois Loves - Gifts under $100

Today's Gifts under $100 post is dedicated to electronic gifts. Did you know you could find cool electronic gadgets for less than $100? Well, if you didn't, you'll certainly appreciate these two moderately priced gadgets.

The Zen Vision V plays up to 500 songs and displays color photos. Its the perfect size for the gym. $90.

When digital photo frames first hit the market, I thought they would make great gifts, but the prices were a bit high. I was really excited when I came across the Mustek digital photo viewer . Its affordable and great looking. $82.99.

Lois Loves - Unique Personalized Gifts

A personalized gift is always more appreciated because it signifies that the gift-giver took an extra step to make the gift more meaningful to the gift recipient. When most people think of giving a personalized gift, they usually opt to give an item imprinted with the gift recipient's name, initials, or the date of a special occasion. But why not go a step beyond that? Personalized gifts don't only have to be limited to imprinting the recipient's name or initials on the gift. I've found a few truly personalized gifts that are bound to knock the socks off your gift recipients.

When I learned of the Design-Her Gals website, I immediately thought their products would be a hit. Design-Her Gals allows customers to create a "Gal" that resembles the customer. Gals come in different poses, races, and sizes. Choose an outfit, a hairstyle, eye color, and accessories to re-create your look. Once you've fully customized your Gal you can choose to have your Gal printed on stationary, stickers, invitations, mugs, aprons, tote bags, and other great products. This is a great birthday gift for you "gal"friends.

Personalized Children's books are great gifts for children and their parents. I See Me offers two personalized children's books for $29.95.

"My Very Own Fairy Tale is a 8 1/2" x 11" hardcover, professionally bound book that transports little girls into a magical garden where flower and berry fairies crown her as their fairy princess. Enchanting fairies bring letters one by one to spell out the child's name, while describing character traits that make the recipient alone the perfect princess. The sunflower fairy brings an S and says she knows a smart girl who would be a great princess; the hollyberry brings an H and says she knows an honest girl, and so on. At the end, the fairies crown the special girl as their fairy princess in a grand celebration."

"My Very Own Name book helps children learn to recognize letters and spell their names. In this 8 1/2" x 11" hardcover, professionally bound book, animals bring letters one by one to create the child's first and last names in rhyme. A jackal brings a J, an ostrich brings an O, and so on. At the end, the animals celebrate because they've created the perfect name."

Photo Wow allows you to reproduce an image or photo on various mediums. You can choose one of numerous designs and have your image or photo reproduced on a canvas, purses, t-shirts, coasters, puzzle, pillows, and many other mediums. Here are my favorite design options.

Pop Panel Look

Comic Look

Soft Paint Stroke Look

Watercolor Look

Lois Loves - Crewcuts

J.Crew recently opened Crewcuts, a store for kids, sizes 2-10. The online store sells really adorable products for kids. If you are looking for gift ideas for kids, check out these great Crewcuts' clothing items.

The Girls' Cotton stripe shirt dress is absolutely adorable. I wish it came in my size! $59.50.

I love the embroidered "critters" on the Girls' Denim Critter Mini. $49.50.

The Boys' Rainy day coat is just in time for April showers. $98.

The Boys' vintage seersucker cargo short is the perfect Summer short. $48.

Lois Loves - Kimberly Baker Jewelry

I love unique pieces of jewelry that I don't see everyone wearing. So, I'm always excited to see a jewelry designer do something new and fresh. Kimberly Baker's pieces are some of the most unique pieces I've seen in awhile. Her pieces are perfect for a friend who has her own unique style. Here are some examples of her work.


The Phoenix Rising Necklace is a great conversation piece, and is sure to get you noticed when you enter a room. $195.

You won't need to wear any other jewelry with the Liberty Wings Earrings. $172.

I love the delicate flowers of the Keiko Gold Ring. $138.

Lois Loves - The Stylist Essentials Kit

If you are ever getting ready to attend an event and wish you had the tools to fix deodorant stains, makeup stains, an unruly bra strap, droopy hem, or, other fashion faux pas, the stylist essentials kit is just what the doctor ordered.

The Stylist Essentials Kit contains professional fashion fixes in a great carry-all kit. The kit contains:

• Hollywood Fashion Tape
• Hollywood Tag Tamers
• Forever New Fabric Care Wash
• Foot Petals
• Miss Oops (erases deodorant marks)
• Everblum Cosmetic Stain Remover
• Static Guard
• Hem tape
• Lint roller
• Sewing kit

Go to Couture Candy to purchase this great kit. $60.

GiftRx - Shopping Plan of Action

I like to have a plan of action before I go shopping for gifts. Usually, the night before a planned shopping trip or the morning of the day I'm going shopping, I make a list of all the gifts I plan to purchase. Then, I list the stores I'll have to visit to purchase these gifts. Once I've compiled my list of gifts and stores, I either visit the stores' websites or call the stores and get their hours of operation. The store that opens the earliest is the first store I visit on my shopping trip. I also prefer to complete my shopping in the morning so that I can avoid crowded stores and long lines. The next step on my plan of action is to plan my travel route. I plot each store's location, so that I can figure out whether a store is easily accessible by public transportation, or, whether I'll need to jump in a cab to get to the store. I often try to shop for gifts at stores that are in the same vicinity, so that I can keep my travel time to a minimum, and, avoid lugging gifts long distances.

Whenever I don't follow this plan of action, I find that I'm stressed and fatigued after a day of shopping for gifts. I really recommend creating a plan of action before you go shopping for gifts. I guarantee that it will help you complete your shopping more efficiently. Use my plan of action as a guide to create your own plan of action.

My Plan of Action for Gift Shopping
1. Compile list of gifts you plan to purchase
2. Gather store addresses for the gifts you plan to purchase
3. Look up the store(s) hours of operation
4. Plot Travel Route - take into account, transportation, proximity of stores, and stores' hours of operations

Lois Loves - Gifts under $100 for Men

Last week's Gifts under $100 post focused on women's jewelry. Here are a few great gifts for men that cost less than $100.

The Cole Haan Money Clip Card Case gives men a sleek and trendy alternative to bulky wallets. $55.

The Ridged Knot cuff links from Banana Republic are made of solid brass with nickel finish. A great way to add sophistication to an outfit. $38.

The Art of Shaving Starter Kit will help your man achieve the perfect shave. The Kit contains Pre-Shave Oil, Shaving Cream, a Shaving Brush, and After Shave Balm. You can choose the unscented, lavender, sandalwood or lemon scented kit. $38.

Lois Loves - Non-traditional Gifts for Mommies

Whenever I'm invited to a baby shower, I always feel so restricted by the baby shower gift registry. I know the expecting mother needs bottles, pacifiers, diaper bags, and onesies, but wouldn't it be great to wow her with a gift outside of the box? Here are two great non-traditional gifts for new or expecting mothers.

Prenatal Yoga Classes

Expecting Mothers searching for a way to keep in shape during pregnancy and trying to alleviate the discomforts of pregnancy will appreciate the gift of prenatal yoga classes. Check out the yoga classes offered at the Prenatal Yoga Center located at 251 West 71st, 2f, 212-362-2985.

Prenatal Yoga (8 week session)1 class per week - $185
2 classes per week - $350
3 classes per week - $495

Postnatal Yoga (8 class card)
1 class per week - $185
2 classes per week - $350
3 classes per week - $495

Mommy & Me Yoga (8 class card)
1 class per week - $160

If you do not live in the NYC area, call yoga studios in your town and inquire about prenatal yoga classes.

Baby Slings

Recently, I've seen a number of articles asserting that traditional baby carriers create excessive stress on the baby's spine. In addition, some mothers complain that they experience back pain when using traditional baby carriers. As a result, there is a new movement towards the use of baby slings. Proponents of baby slings say that baby wearing can promote bonding and alleviate excessive crying. Intrigued, I searched the Internet and was shocked at the number of companies selling baby slings. I visited a few websites and was amazed at how adorable these baby slings are. Any new mother will love the stylishness of baby slings and will praise the ergonomic benefits of baby slings. Sprout Pouch offers really cute baby sling options. Here are my favorites.

The Kimberly Pouch's earthy colors immediately caught my eye. $56.






The bright colors of the Joellen Sling will keep both Mom and baby in a cheery mood. $56.



Here are links to other companies that sell really cute baby slings.

www.mayawrap.com
www.kangarookorner.com
www.ergobabycarrier.com
www.mykarmababy.com

Lois Loves - Gifts that Keep Giving

A few years ago, I got my boyfriend a gift subscription to a wine club. Each month he received two bottles of wine. The gift not only helped him to build his wine collection but also reminded him of what a great girlfriend I am on a monthly basis. LOL. This was one of his favorite gifts and to this day he still talks about it. If you are looking for a truly unique gift, a club subscription is the way to go. Its a gift guaranteed to make you unforgettable. Here are a few options.

Red Envelope's Bouquet of the Month is a perfect "thinking of you" gift for that special someone in your life. Each month the recipient receives a different bouquet with a special quote attached to the vase of the bouquet. A three month subscription is $145, a six month subscription is $270, and a twelve month subscription is $395.

The Beer of the Month Club, confirms that there really is something for everyone. Your husband or boyfriend will not stop thanking you for this gift. Each month or every other month, the recipient receives 12 bottles of premium beer. The three month club is $29.95, the six month Club is $28.95 per month, and the twelve month club is $27.95 per month.

Serious tea drinkers will get a kick out of Adagio Teas Tea of the Month Club . Every other month, two 4oz tins of gourmet tea is mailed to you. You can choose from flavored, herbal, decaf, black, and green tea variations. A six month membership subscription is $49 for the flavored, herbal or decaf varieties and $69 for the black or green tea varieties. A twelve month subscription is $99 for the flavored, herbal or decaf varieties and $129 for the black or green tea varieties.

Lois Loves - Doulas for Expecting or New Mothers

I recently had a conversation with someone about new trends in childbirth and parenting. During the conversation, she mentioned that she was interested in becoming a Doula. I had never heard this term and when I asked her to explain what a Doula is, she referred me to Dona International. After doing some research, I learned that there are three types of Doulas; the Birth or Labor Doula, the Antepartum Doula and the Postpartum Doula.

"A birth doula is a person trained and experienced in childbirth who provides continuous physical, emotional and informational support to the mother before, during and just after childbirth." Dona FAQ Birth.

"Antepartum Doulas provide help and support to a mom who has been put on bed rest or is experiencing a high risk pregnancy. They provide informational, emotional, physical and practical support in a situation that is often stressful, confusing and emotionally draining."
American Pregnancy Association.

"Postpartum Doulas are there to support you in your first weeks of being a mom. They provide informational support about feeding and caring for the baby. They provide physical support by cleaning, cooking meals and filling in when mom needs a break, and they provide emotional support by encouraging a mom during those times when she feels overwhelmed." American Pregnancy Association.

After learning more about Doulas, it struck me that a Doula would be a wonderful gift for an expecting or new mother. Childbirth can be such a stressful time and a Doula could help provide extra emotional and physical support to an expecting or new mother. Visit Dona International and American Pregnancy Association to learn more about the benefits of having a Doula. If you know a new or expecting mother and think this is a gift they might appreciate, go to Dona International or American Pregnancy Association to find a Doula near you. Some Doulas even offer gift certificates for their services. This is a gift that would certainly always be remembered.

Lois Loves - Stella McCartney "Care" Discovery Set

I love Stella McCartney's fragrance line, and I own almost every fragrance she's created. I was really excited to learn that she's developed an Organic Skin Care line called "Care". I ran to Sephora during my lunch hour to test some of the products in this new line. Guess what I found? A four-piece trial size set called the Discovery Set. I should have known that the woman who brought us the Stella Eau de Parfum Roll On Set, would think of a great way to introduce us to her new product line. The Discovery Set contains trial size versions of the Benefits Moisturising Cream, the Calming + Soothing Elixer, the Radiance + Youth Elixer, and the Nourishing Elixer. Its a great way to try the new line before committing to any product. The Discovery Set retails for the great price of $38.

GiftRx - Dose 3 - Keep Track of Gift Ideas

This may sound a little weird but I'm always thinking about gifts. If you were to take a peek at my email inbox or my PDA, you'll find a gift list for everyone I expect to buy a gift for. I even have a file folder where I store print-outs of products I've seen on the Internet and magazine tear-outs of cool products. I gather gift ideas throughout the year because I want to avoid last minute gift shopping. When its time for me to buy a gift for someone, I can always refer to the lists I've made and files I've created throughout the year. I almost immediately know what gift I'm going to get that person. This technique promotes efficient and stress-free gift shopping.

I know most people will not be able to make lists and keep files of magazine tear-outs and Internet print-outs. It's definitely something that takes a bit of thought and a little effort. However, if you find that you are one of those harried, last-minute gift shoppers, a modified version of my technique might work wonders for you.

Since most of us sit in front of a PC all day and periodically browse the Internet, I think the easiest way to keep track of gift ideas is to create a general folder labeled Gift Ideas in your email account. If you are really organized you can create several folders and label each folder according to gift recipient. For example, one folder would be labeled, Gift Ideas for Mom, and another folder would be labeled, Gifts for Dad, and so on. Anytime you come across something on the Internet you think a recipient might like, forward the link or page to your email address and file in the appropriate folder. If you've created one general gift ideas folder, make sure to note the recipient and the occasion in the subject line before filing in the folder. A week or two prior to any occasion that requires a gift, go to the appropriate gift ideas folder and pick a gift from the folder. This should alleviate some of the stress of having to find a gift. If you find this technique helpful and easy to do, later you can try creating a file folder where you can store magazine tear-outs and Internet print-outs.

Lois Loves - Cleaning Services

So, I wake up this morning, take a look around my apartment, and groan. My apartment is in chaos. I know I'm going to have to spend a few hours this weekend cleaning and organizing my apartment. Its a constant struggle to keep my apartment tidy because of the long hours I work. I've toyed with the idea of hiring a cleaning service, but, I admit, I'm a bit hesitant to do so. I'm not quite sure where this hesitation comes from. I have no problem using other services which help make my life easier. I often use Fresh Direct, an online grocery store that delivers your groceries to your door, and Bubbleworks, a pick-up and drop-off laundry service. This morning, I decided to do a little research into cleaning services. I ran an Internet search for cleaning services in the NYC area. I found tons of cleaning services, and learned that some of these companies even offer gift certificates. What a great gift idea for busy professionals, new mothers, or older adults. You can search your local yellow pages for cleaning services in your area and call and see if these companies offer gift certificates, or, you can do your own Internet search. Here are a few cleaning services in the NYC area.

Zen Home Cleaning markets itself as a non-toxic, eco-friendly cleaning service. The company charges $35 an hour for first time customers, with a four hour minimum. The company's website doesn't mention gift certificates, but why not call them up and see if you can pre-pay for someone else to use their services. They offer House Cleaning, Spring Cleaning and Professional Organizing. 212-462-2566.

Makai NY serves all five boroughs. In addition to House Cleaning Services, they also offer several Special Services, including Construction Cleaning, Grocery Shopping and Cooking, and Party Set up and Clean up. Makai NY offers gift certificates in denominations of $60.00. 877-282-8050.

Miracle Maids also operates in all five boroughs. Their services include Residential Cleaning, Organizing Closets, Move in/Move out Cleaning, and Laundry and Ironing. 718-369-9000;212-543-1212.

Lois Loves - Jewelry Gifts under $100

Earlier this week, a reader asked, what do you do if your financial resources do not allow you to buy an appropriate gift for a specific occasion? She was concerned that a small budget limits the types of gifts she could buy. I realize that this is a concern for many people. However, I believe that you can find appropriate, moderately priced gifts no matter what your budget. Each week I will dedicate a post to gift ideas under $100. Today, I'm focusing on women's jewelry. Jewelry is the perfect gift for any occasion. I think you'll really enjoy the pieces I've picked and find the prices very reasonable.

The yellow lucite material of these drop earrings updates a great classic style. These earrings are a perfect gift for your mother, aunt, or grandmother. $25.

Lucite is clearly in this season, check out these funky chandelier earrings by Erika Pena. Perfect birthday gift for a girlfriend. $58. Bloomingdales.

A friend bought me a pair of these Viv and Ingrid teardrop hoop earrings for my birthday. I wear them with everything. Its the perfect gift for that trendy friend. $70.

This sweet three heart necklace by Kuo Ting is a great gift for a teenage girl. $77.

This funky gold chain with heart, star and butterfly charms is priced right at $55. Its a great gift for college student or recent graduate.

The Tashi Lotus Pendant in Sterling Silver can be layered with its smaller version to create a unique look. Lg $60.00; Sm $36.

The delicate Karma Necklace by Dogeared is a great gift for your Mom. $66.

Lois Loves - More Spring Bags

Bags, Bags, and More Bags. Here are some more great bags that are perfect Spring gifts.

The Michael Kors Joplin Tiger Tote is perfect for that woman who wants to show a little bit of her wild side. $298.


The dainty Kenneth Cole Weave It Be Small Straw Flap Bag is perfect for ladies who lunch. $298.

Why not celebrate the advent of spring with some floral adornment? Pick up the Elliott Luca
Floral Dr. Satchel for someone who loves bright and vivid colors. $298.

The Elliott Lucca Frida Bucket bag is perfect for the bohemian chic. $168.

Who says orange should only be worn in October? Get noticed with the orange, patent leather Kate Spade
Pasadena Julia bag. $645.

The Maxx New York Bridle Oversize Triple Zip Satchel is sure to bring a little sunshine into any girl's life. $148.

Don't you just love the nautical colors of the Kate Spade, Cape Cod Maya bag? $495.

Lois Loves - Watch Cases

Nowadays, men own multiple watches and use them to accessorize outfits, just like women use handbags to accessorize outfits. Men who own multiple watches will certainly need something to protect, display, and store their watches. Red Envelope offers some great watch cases that are great looking and priced for different budgets.

The Monogrammed Leather Watch Case offers a a more traditional look in black pebbled leather or brown pebbled leather. $60.

I love the sleek, sophistication of the Brushed Nickel Watch Case. The case holds up to nine watches and is engravable. $78.

The Milano Leather Watch Case stores seven watches and also has a drawer that can store cuff links. $125.

Lois Loves - Zodiac Watches

Today, I'm focusing on gifts for men. Generally, I think men are easier to shop for because there is less choice. You can't go wrong with a watch, clothing, gadget, or tools. Its usually best to keep it simple. However, in this age of the Metrosexual, men are taking more interest in their appearance and companies are starting to cater more to those men who want to present a put-together, stylish image to the world. Zodiac Watches definitely caters to these men, but the brand also has a wide selection of watches that any man would appreciate. Check out these great watch styles.

This stainless steel style is perfect for the old school guy who wants to jazz up his look just a little. Style Z02258 , Sea Dragon Collection, $275.





I love the casual elegance of the ZO21055, V-Series Collection, $395.




The versatility of the ZO3700, Sea Dragon Collection, $275, makes it a perfect watch for an athlete or college student.