Holiday Hostess Gifts Under $35

Here is the newest gallery that I just came up with for mom.me

I had a lot of fun working on this piece, but I had such a tough time trying to narrow down the gifts for a 10 item gallery. I think that I came up with some unique, affordable items and I really tried to stay away from big box stores and tried to promote as many small designers and small business as I could. Below are just a few that I chose.

 

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Holiday Hostess Gifts Under $35 – mom.me.

Currently Drooling Over…

I am a huge fan of Baggu bags and they recently collaborated with Fredericks & Mae to create these awesome drawstring tassel purses and pouches. Made from 100% natural milled vegetable tanned leather with colorful horsehair tassels. The large bag comes in Black and Natural leather, but the pouches are available in colors like Poppy, Fuchsia and Cobalt Blue. They are made in New York, NY so it’s a great way to support products that are made in the USA!

Halloween (late)

I really wanted to get these photos up of Skye’s Halloween costume that I made him, but guess what? I got sick AGAIN. Seriously, we need to catch a break at my house. I can’t keep on getting sick like this. Especially with a husband that tours all the time. Anyway, I have become an obsessive hand-washing, hand sanitizing freak. Two year olds + playgrounds+ whatever else they touch = nasty germ territory. Any tips from moms (or dads) out there on how to stay healthy?

We did have a blast on Halloween. Skye went from not wanting to wear the costume that I made him to not wanting to take it off and then wanting to wear it out again the next night. That made me so happy since I worked so hard on it for him. And I stood in line at Jo-Ann Fabrics for forty-five minutes waiting to buy sparkly black felt with a massive sinus infection.  We didn’t let him eat too much candy, but thats because Zach and I ate it all. I only feel a tiny bit guilty.

I love that he didn’t want to take the costume off!

Super Simple Halloween DIY

I’m kind of in love with the Baggu inspired Trick of Treating bag that I made for Skye from left over fabric from his Halloween costume. Its a super simple DIY that takes all of 5 minutes to make.I know I’m kind of late to post this since Halloween is tonight, but thats okay. 

You will need: fabric, thread, needles, scissors, ruler, chalk, sewing machine

1. take a piece of fabric and fold it in half so the right sides of the fabric are facing each other
2. with a piece of chalk and a ruler draw a rectangle the size that you want your bag on the wrong side of the fabric ( mine is 17 in long and 9.5 in wide) and a half circle to cut out for the handles
3. pin it along your lines leaving a 1/4 to 1/2 inch seam allowance
4. sew the straight lines of the rectangle stopping where you want your handle openings ( I double stitched the bag so it will be strong for all the candy) My handle openings are 6 in long
5. Flip the bag to the right sides and Voila! A super awesome Trick or Treating bag!

Fresh Heir (Father & Son)

I’m so excited! A few months ago my husband Zach and our son Skye posed together for a photo shoot for Riviera Magazine. I love the photo that they chose to run. Skye was yelling and dancing around while Zach stood smugly behind him. Always his cool, relaxed self.

Armistead Burrwell Smith IV, aka Zach, and son Skye at Essex Lofts. Photo by Robert Benson

Fresh Heir

by AnnaMaria Stephens |Riviera San Diego Magazine | October 25, 2012

Like father, like son. It may be a cliché, but it’s definitely accurate when it comes to local musician Zach Smith, whose band, Pinback, just released its long-awaited new album, Information Retrieved. Artistry is simply in the Smith genes.

Zach, aka Armistead Burwell IV, lives and works in Little Italy’s acclaimed mixed-use Essex Lofts, which subtly resemble an aircraft carrier and always have a waitlist. The architect? Zach’s father, urban-design pioneer Ted Smith, who resides three doors down from his son.

“I can’t imagine living in a building that wasn’t designed by my dad,” says Zach. “I’d feel out of place. There is so much I admire about his architecture. I wouldn’t be who I am without it and it’s had a major influence on the music I create.”

A fixture in S.D.’s music scene for two decades, Zach, a prodigious bass player, catapulted from indie to international acclaim with Pinback. Five years have passed since the last album, but he has a good excuse.

Along with producing other bands out of his home studio, he released his first full-length solo album as Systems Officer and reformed his cult-followed ’90s band Three Mile Pilot, which also put out a new album and toured the West Coast, with a European tour coming up this fall. “And I had my now 2-year-old son, Skye,” he adds.

That would be Skye Burwell Smith—the spitting image of his father. “He has a knack for music and constantly wants to play the drums, piano and my guitars,” says Zach of his fashionable mini-me, who runs around the family’s concrete compound in a rocker-cool denim vest while his stylist mom perfects pork buns. The pair sometimes wander down to Ted’s jam sessions, where the third generation shows off his pint-size dance moves. “Skye fits right in,” says Zach. “It’s a great thing to share music with your grandpa.”

Smith’s Hots 
Mongolian hot pots at Little Sheep, Tofu House, K’s bánh mì sandwiches in Kearny Mesa, the Chargers, my wife’s cooking

Smith’s Nots 
Chick-fil-A, the Raiders, my cooking

Currently drooling over…

Truly, these are the most amazing neckpieces that I’ve seen in a long time. Designed by Iris Bodemer, they are such a mix of sculpture, wearable art and jewelry.

Takara

Wow! I am so into necklaces right now! Maybe its because Skye has finally stopped pulling on them. Gosh he’s so mature for two! But, I am really loving these necklaces from Takara especially the Night Shield Necklace in Brown. Its just so perfect!

Each necklace is made from Hammered Brass and Dip Dyed Silk and range in price from $110-$154

Night Shield/Ornament Pendant/Noon Shield

Currently Drooling Over…

A modern take on Squash Blossom Jewelry

Available at kris nations

Up-Cycled Leather Boots

I saw these adorable mini yellow toe capped boots recently on Pinterest and absolutely fell in love with them. Obviously, Skye needed a pair so I went to the website and saw that they cost $85! I’m not about to pay that much money for a pair of shoes that my two-year old will maybe wear for six months. Kind of bummed out about not getting them for Skye (damn you conscience) I remembered that about a year ago a girlfriend of mine gave me a box of her sons hand-me-downs. And there were a pair of brown leather ankle boots from Stride Rite in there so I was inspired to make a version of my own.

Directions to make your own down below

Here is my version

        You will need:

• Leather Boots/Shoes
• Leather Paint or Nail Polish (white primer, color &clear coat)(I used nail polish & clear coat nail polish)
• Rubbing Alcohol
• Nail Polish Remover
• Shoe Polish
• Paint Brushes
• Painters Tape
• Q-Tips

1. Tape off the area that you won’t be painting
2. Clean the area that will be painted with rubbing alcohol and let dry
3. In short thin strokes paint a base coat (white) on the leather. This may take two thin coats of white to completely cover the leather
4. Let dry over night
5. In short thin strokes paint the color. I did three thin coats of yellow nail polish and I let each coat dry over night.
6. Apply a thin clear coat of polish and let dry
7. If there is any extra paint on the shoe you can remove it with a little nail polish remover on a Q-tip
8. Apply shoe polish with a cloth to the rest of the shoe that wasn’t painted

Voila!!! Super amazing shoes for your toddler or for you! For me this cost about $10 which is way better than $85!

Denim Vest

My mom just made Skye the cutest denim vest with customized patches from Zach’s band t-shirts.  I ordered teeny-tiny versions when I was pregnant. This is such a great way to give a second life to something and Skye looks so cute in it!

She even made a couple for a friends son and daughter, but I’m just going to give a sneak peak so I don’t ruin the surprise.