LilSugar

The Gifted Grandparent: Grandpa

babysugar — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 05:00:42 PST

The title "Grandpa" often connotes images of an old man with a cane, glasses and worn out hands. But if 50 is the new 30, then Gramps should act and dress the part, too.

Make sure the man is well groomed with a set of Kiehl's shaving lotions and creams. Your wee one should be begging for kisses from Gramps, not a porcupine.
Keep Grandaddy hip with a timeless pair of Chuck Taylors. The grandchildren will think he's the coolest pop on the block.
For the dapper Pappy, a cashmere tartan scarf will keep him nice and cozy on the outside while giving him warm fuzzies on the inside.

The Gifted Grandparent: Grandma

LilSugar — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 05:00:43 PST

Grandmothers must have the toughest job buying holiday gifts for their own children and their spouses, grandchildren, great grandchildren and others. Don't let her get swept under the rug with another pair of raggedy old slippers. Show her some love with one of these thoughtful gifts.

Nothing says lovin' like cooking with Grams. And chances are, nobody cooks better than her, either. Create memories in the kitchen (and grab a few tips) using the festive gingerbread man tray and enjoy yourselves as you decorate the lil brown fellas.
I never met a grandma who didn't have a stash of candy around her house somewhere. Lure her tasty treats onto the pretty silver platter and out of that old outdated crystal dish.
I'm sure your Granny knows who the Queen Bee of the family is, but just in case she needs reminding, the gold charm bracelet with the tiara charm will let her know how much she is celebrated and regaled in her family ranks.

The Gifted Grandparents

LilSugar — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 13:45:24 PST

Give doting grandparents what they really want - bragging rights! This picturesque gift guide is just a snapshot of the many ways you can show grandma and grandpa how much you love them. So spare them from photo-screened sweatshirts, and add these to your shopping list.

Marble Coaster Set -Use this do-it-yourself kit to personalize four family coasters for gram and gramps. An antiquing solution will give them a time-worn fresco effect.
Faceted Glass Locket For Her - Grandma can keep loved ones close to her heart with this modern rectangular sterling silver locket. It features clear beveled glass to show off the interior picture and an adjustable rolo chain.
Sterling Locket Cuff links For Him - Grandpa can look at those he loves with these round or rectangular sterling silver initial cuff links.
Personalized Standing Light -This 8 x 10 inch light can capture the essence of any photo. The lamp includes a main carved piece, a frame, a back stand, an energy efficient light bulb and a plug-in electric cord with an on/off switch.

Marble Coaster Set ($45)	Faceted glass locket ($98)
Sterling locket cuff links ($130)	Light Affection Photo ($239)

Source

5 Things You Can Do For Your Mom This Mother's Day - and 5 She Can Do For You

Kate Stahl — Sat, 12 May 2012 05:42:34 PDT

Mother's Day is double the fun when you're a mom yourself. Not only do you get a day that celebrates you, but you have a whole new appreciation for your own mom, who definitely deserves some special attention. If you're both looking for ways to celebrate each other, consider the following 10 tips - five are just for you, and five are for her.

For You: She can offer perspective. When you're in the thick of sleepless nights, endless teething, and toddler temper tantrums, motherhood can seem overwhelming. But your mom survived it, and she can tell you how quickly "this too shall pass" and remind you to appreciate the fleeting moments.
For Her: You can allow her to revisit the early days of being a mom . . . without all the stress. Changing diapers, making bottles, and soothing baby breakdowns can actually be fun when you're grandma (or at least that's what our moms tell us), so let her step in and take a trip down memory lane.
For You: She can provide worry-free (and free!) babysitting. Grandparents are second only to you when it comes to caring about your kids. Take advantage of her desire to spend time with your lil ones and take a break!
For Her: You can give her your time. Offer to help her with a project in which you have expertise. Help her figure out that iPad or fancy camera, weed her garden, or just (finally) clean out your childhood closet.

Click here for six more Mother's Day gifts you and your mom can give each other.

5 Geeky Gifts For Your Grandparents

Kristy Korcz — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 03:12:54 PST

Your grandparents may be senior citizens, but that doesn't mean they wouldn't enjoy a little tech treat this holiday season. Here, five gifts that will help usher them into 2012 in geeky style.

OnSugar Blog: If the World Revolved Around Families . . .

OnSugar Blog — Mon, 07 May 2012 03:16:38 PDT

Lots of moms like to think out loud, and Jo Aaron is one of them. Here is one of the latest posts to her Mommy Brain blog.

While innocently looking for a restaurant suggestion online the other day, I stumbled across an anti-parent, anti-child blog entry that just annoyed me. It was an angry (and narrow-minded, in my opinion) piece about how awful it is when this particular person has to dine with families at his favorite restaurants. He/she literally suggested that families shouldn't be allowed to dine in restaurants at all, and most definitely not the ones that are any good.

Here are my guesses:

#1, this person is somewhere between 21-26.

#2, this person will have a completely different blog in about 5-10 years when he/she has kids of his/her own and realizes that going out for dinner is like parental heroin . . . you know, your fix is having someone else prepare and clean up your meal while all you have to do is watch the kids and make sure they don't drive the other patrons nuts. Because that's the easy part. Right.

So, while I get that I shouldn't be carting my kids off to the Pump Room for a 9PM Saturday night reservation, I don't think it's such a crime to have them enjoy a 5:30PM reservation at a local haunt regardless of how cool and trendy it is this week. Instead of digitally flicking this guy or gal off by replying to his/her post, instead I thought I'd make a list of all of the ways that the world would be a better place for those of us with kids . . . maybe this will drive it home:

If the world revolved around families, there would be no such thing as lines at the grocery store. Instead of spending 15 minutes telling our kids to stop touching everything in the checkout line, like candy, magazines, or batteries, we'd just breeze through the aisles, yell our credit card numbers out to the teller as we beelined to our cars. No fuss, no muss.
If the world revolved around families, there would be a Starbucks with dozens of drive-thru windows and on-duty baristas somewhere between my house and school.
If the world revolved around families, there would be TVs with DVD players and current Disney movies playing in every waiting room in the United States. This includes all airport terminals as well. And speaking of airports...
If the world revolved around families, there would be such a thing as teleportation like on Star Trek (yes, I'm a nerd), so that families would never, never, never, ever have to deal with air travel at all.
If the world revolved around families, no one with kids would ever have to go to the DMV, post office, or emergency room.

Keep reading for more of Jo Aaron's funny observations!

A Guide to Wedding Festivities

Katie Sweeney — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 09:19:28 PDT

When a couple decides to get married, they aren't just signing up to host a wedding, they are also committing themselves to a lot of parties that happen along the way. An engagement party, shower, and bachelorette are all commonly associated with weddings. But with so many parties, it's hard to keep them all straight! That's why I've created this handy guide that explains everything you need to know - from the proper time to host a shower to the first person to toast at the wedding. Read on for all the details.

2011 Lil Gift Guides to Cover Every Child, Parent, Grandparent, and Sitter on Your List

Rebecca M Gruber — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 05:35:22 PST

We're coming down to the wire! It's only a few more days until the jolly man in the red suit arrives, but there's still time to pick up an item or two to finish off your gift lists! If you still have a child, new parent, grandparent, or babysitter left on your list, don't fret! We've spent the past month highlighting our gift picks through our awesome gift guides. Filled with more than just the hot toys of the year, we have age-specific guides from birth through age 9, as well as special interest lists. Don't head out to the stores (or online) without them!

Lil Gift Guide: 10 Heartfelt Gifts For Treasured Grandparents

Natasha Dantzig — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 11:36:23 PST

Grandma and Grandpa. Nana and Papa. Gammy and Pop Pop. Whatever our elders are called, the relationship between a grandparent and grandchild is immensely special, important, and deserving of recognition and celebration. Of course, grams and gramps adore lil ones' scribbles and art projects, but for the holidays this year, get them something extraspecial. Keep reading for 10 great finds for very deserving grandparents.

A Fun Craft For Kids: Personalized Decoupage

LilSugar — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 03:16:00 PST

These cold Winter days are perfect for indoor arts and crafts, so try this fun, original decoupage activity with your kids on the next rainy afternoon. Simple and quick, it's an easy way for them to create some new decor while spending some quality time with you.

What you'll need:

Scissors
Decoupage craft glue or diluted white school glue
Paintbrush or foam brush
Used book pages, sheet music, or photos
An item to decoupage (mug, picture frame, furniture, etc.)

What to do:

Encourage your child to pick out their favorite song, book, or photos to use for the project. Cut the book pages, sheet music, or photos into small pieces.
Brush a layer of glue onto whatever item you've chosen to decoupage. Or if it's easier, brush glue onto the back of the cut pieces before placing them on the item. Make sure to brush out or flatten any bubbles beneath each piece so that it lays flat.
Once the item is dry, brush a coat of glue across the entire item to seal in the different pieces. Let that coat dry, then repeat as necessary until you're sure that the pieces are secure.

Get creative with the decoupage add-ons. Consider including magazine pages, pieces of ribbon, candy wrappers, fake flower petals, or anything else your kids might love. We love the idea of a book page collage on a nightstand, or sheet music and pieces of ribbon on a mug. These items would make great personalized presents, too, so consider turning it into a gift for grandparents or a teacher.

Source: Flickr Users Samantha Celera, Jason Hargrove, Michael Janssen, and bptakoma.