I just received a set of rings from the line and I absolutely love them. They’re a simple, pretty reminder of the three lives that are so closely connected to my heart.

Luna & Stella is a collection of hand-crafted birthstone jewelry, designed by Suzanne Ellis, that is both sophisticated and meaningful. Luna & Stella is Italian for ‘moon and star’ and conveys the precious relationship between ourselves and those we love. Each piece is made-to-order and custom set with the birthstones of children, grandchildren and loved ones. The classic yet modern pieces are designed to be lasting symbols of her closest relationships.

The company uses precious and semi-precious birthstones as a symbolic representation of the people we love. Each stone carries with it centuries of legend and lore, which they believe gives each piece unique character.

Luna & Stella is a thoughtful and completely unique gift. The necklace is customizable with up to 5 stones and is made to order by artisans in the United States, ready to ship in just 5 days. The rings are sold individually but designed to be mixed, matched and added to over time as new members join the family, making them a great gift for a new Mom or Grandma.

The rings start at $38 for a single, and the necklaces start at $120. And  here’s some good news. Currently, Luna & Stella is hosting an open contest to find the next Mother-Child pairing to be the face of the brand. Participation is open to all families across the United States who can send in their favorite family photos for a chance to be featured in Luna & Stella advertisements, postcards and on the homepage of www.lunaandstella.com. Suzanne Ellis will select up to ten winning photos, which will be posted on the website on Mother’s Day, May 9, 2010. Both current and old pictures from across all generations are encouraged and candid photos are preferred. Black and white or color are both accepted, and photos should be sent in a .jpg format to contest@lunaandstella.com. The deadline for applications is midnight on May 5. Winners of Luna & Stella’s photo contest will each receive a $100 gift certificate to customize their own piece of birthstone jewelry. I already entered and if I win, I’m getting the necklace, too!

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That’s why I was delighted to discover Ladybugs and Butterflies — a company that makes children’s hair accessories by hand, piece by piece.

Ladybugs and Butterflies offer their beautiful embellishments on four different types of hair clips.  The toddler snappy clip, which is flat and 1 1/2 “, is the type of  I clip I chose for my daughter’s hair accessories, and it really does hold just onto the smallest, finest amount of hair. They also offer the 1 1/4″ infant snappy clip, which is guaranteed to hold in the finest and just a few strands of newborn baby hair.   They also offer the original  1 3/4″ alligator pinch clip and the 2″ French barrette that is great for big girls with thicker, long hair.

Ladybugs and Butterflies has plenty of products for those who like ponytails and headbands in sizes that work for all hair types. And the baby head bands are super soft and stretchy, so they won’t leave marks on your baby girls’ heads.

The site is easy to shop because it’s organized in so many different ways: you can view products by latest collection, headbands, hairclips and pony O’s, etc.  Once you pick a product (like the Bella Marie, which is my favorite and which is often on my toddler’s head), then you choose the clip type and color. Prices range from $4 for pony O’s to $7 for most hair clips and about $16 for headbands.

Check them out soon to accessorize your daughter’s wardrobe, and don’t forget to look for items that will go perfectly with an Easter ensemble.

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Holiday shopping season is here again and the Global Influence network has some great gift ideas for you, tried and tested by real moms. Click on the links to check out what our team of reviewers had to say about each of these gift ideas, and then take a moment to enter our fun giveaway and take a chance at winning some of these fabulous products. Featured Reviews Pouchees –

Busy moms need all the help they can get to stay organized and keep life as simple as possible. The Pouchee is the perfect solution to keeping all those little things together, putting everything you need, right at your fingertips.

Duck Hunter -

Duck Hunter turns the excitement of the hunt into an activity the whole family can enjoy. Launch the duck in the air and try to hunt it down with the toy shooter as it flies freely in the air. A fun choice for those who love outdoor sporting.

CardStore cards

-Personalized holiday cards are an important item on everyone’s to-do list and often a hassle to create and print. Cardstore.com has everything from family photo cards to invitations for your big holiday party, simplifying your holiday season.

Great Holiday Gift Ideas Things Remembered Custom Couture Jewelry Just Elfin’ Around Card Cubby Harumika By Bandai Harumika Runway Showstopper Harumika Style Starter Baby Alive Whoopsie Doo Strawberry Shortcake Playset Kota Monty Rex Wall to Wall Basketball Nerf Pocket Vortex Busy Ball Popper Talking Chuck Truck Leapfrog My Pal Scout Leapfrog Tag Jr Leapfrog Scribble and Write Animal Planet Polar Land Playset Animal Planet Dinosaur Playmat Onionhead Adult/Teen Feelings Pack OnionHead Children’s Feelings Pack Onionhead A-Z Feelings Magnet Set FotoboxPlus MeTime Tees

Fun Holiday Giveaway!
For this holiday guide, we want to share the love with the blogosphere! Some of our generous sponsors have donated prizes to be given away to lucky readers! To enter to win one of the following fabulous prizes, simply fill out the form here: http://tinyurl.com/y8t92rw

Prizes include: Things Remembered Custom Couture Jewelry Pouchee Elfing Around Harumika Onionhead Feelings Pack Nerf Wall to Wall Basketball Baby Alive Whoopsie Doo MeTime T-shirt

Entries will close on December 6, 2009 at 11:59 PM EST. Winners will be contacted by email after the close of the contest.

Global Influence Member Guides Need more ideas for this holiday season? Check out the guides that some of our Global Influence members have put together on their own sites! Thrifty Jinxy, Happy Healthy Hip , And Twins Make Five , Because Two People Fell In Love, Mommy Musings , Lipstick to Crayons , Bargain Briana , Mommy PR , Shop With Me Mama, Santa Picks, Rave and Review, Connected 2 Christ , 3 Boys and a Dog, The Classy Closet , Contest Corner, Lisa Reviews , A Giveaway Every Day, HulaHoopinMom, Spalibrations, High Impact Mom, From Cribs to Car Keys

All reviews listed in the Global Influence gift guide were product provided. Featured positions were purchased by sponsors. Member gift guides are not affiliated with Global Influence.

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This blanket is one of the many unique and practical items available at The Vermont Country Store. You can use this blanket to ease aches and pains, relieve stress or to shake off a chill. Filled with natural herbs such as chamomile, lavender, lemongrass, and yarrow, it heats up in minutes when placed in the microwave to provide deep, penetrating moist heat along with aromatherapy to relax both you and your muscles. It also can be placed in the freezer when cold therapy is needed to treat sprains or reduce swelling or bruising. Other details:

• Holds heat or cold for about 45 minutes
• Ultra-soft 100% Sherpa Polyester Fleece cover
• Machine washable.
• Approximately 44” x 17”

The Vermont Country Store was established in 1946 when Vrest and Ellen Orton printed their first catalog – just 12 pages and 36 products and mailed it to the folks on their Christmas card list. Sixty years later and promoting itself as Purveyors of the Practical and Hard to Find,   the Vermont Country Store has become  “Nostalgia Central” and continues its catalog business, manages a thriving e-commerce Web site and operates two retail stores in Weston and Rockingham, Vermont. Because they’d like you to get to know them better, they’re offering one lucky reader of Lipstick to Crayons one of these herb-filled fleece blankets, which sells for $39.95,  for free.

Giveaway Guidelines

To win, visit The Vermont Country Store and then come back here and tell me in the comment section below about a product you like on their site. (Be sure to check out the toys!)

Receive additional entries by doing any/all of the following, but be sure to leave a separate comment for each thing you do:

1. Blog about this contest
2. Subscribe to my mailing list/RSS feed
3. Tweet this giveaway on Twitter
4. Favorite Lipstick to Crayons on Technorati
5. Stumble this post
6. Add Lipstick to Crayons to your blogroll or my button to your sidebar

This giveaway closes at 11:59 p.m. Central time Sept.  16.  Be sure to include a valid email address with each of your entries. Winner will be randomly chosen via random.org and will be notified via email and announced on this post.

If winner does not claim prize by September 18, 2009,he/she will forfeit the prize to alternate winner who will be drawn at random.

USA and Canada residents only please.

This contest is closed. Congratulations to the winner — Tawanda, comment #22.

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Back to the post. I took my work with me, of course, because as a professional freelance writer, it’s hard to get paid if I’m not working. But doing so this weekend was much more fun because of the hip and stylish laptop bag I was trying out from Fleur de Lis Fashions.  And you can enter to win one just like it if you keep reading.

Fleur de Lis Fashions was founded in 2007 and is headquartered just outside of New Orleans in Slidell, LA.  Fleurdelisfashions.com is an online ladies fashion boutique specializing in fleur-de-lis jewelry and fashions.  The store brings the most extensive and unique fleur-de-lis collection to the web and was ranked #1 in Google for fleur-de-lis jewelry.

In case you didn’t know, the fleur-de-lis is the symbol of New Orleans.
The New Orleans Saints have had the fleur-de-lis emblem on their uniform since 1967.

Rich in history, the fleur-de-lis is one of the most recognized symbols across the world.  Essentially, the fleur-de-lis  is a stylized flower that over time has been associated with royalty. Representing elegance and class, this enduring emblem has been used as a decorative element on shirts, jewelry and even objects for home décor. The symbol has recently been seen on celebrities appearing on American Idol, Dancing with the Stars, Coyote Ugly, K-Ville and more. It’s even a symbol of the National Sorority Kappa Kappa Gamma!  And Fleur de Lis Fashions is your one-stop fashion shop for everything fleur-de-lis, from jewelry and handbags to bridal gifts, home decor, luggage, diaper bags and my gorgeous new laptop bag.

I stuffed this bag full of laptop accessories, files, an extension cord, pens and a very heavy, getting-on-in-years Dell laptop (shameless plug to any computer reps out there).  The bag held it all and looked much more attractive than the old, boxy leather laptop bag I usually carry. As you can see from the photo, the bag sports two small handles, but it also has a detachable shoulder strap which I used to keep my hands free for my coffee and heat sheet (the swim meet thing again). The bag features an inside zippered, padded area for the laptop and two outside pockets that include organizers for pens and other small items like an old-fashioned wireless card that my old-fashioned laptop needs to get online.

I know you want one of these laptop bags, so here’s how you can win:

Giveaway guidelines

To win, visit Fleur de Lis Fashions and then come back here and tell me which product you like best in the comment section below.

Receive additional entries by doing any/all of the following, but be sure to leave a separate comment for each thing you do:

1. Blog about this contest
2. Subscribe to my mailing list/RSS feed
3. Tweet this giveaway on Twitter
4. Favorite Lipstick to Crayons on Technorati
5. Stumble this post
6. Add Lipstick to Crayons to your blogroll or my button to your sidebar

This giveaway closes at 11:59 p.m. Central time August 10.  Be sure to include a valid email address with each of your entries. Winner will be randomly chosen via random.org and will be notified via email and announced on this post.

If winner does not claim prize by August 13, 2009, she/he will forfeit the prize to alternate winner who will be drawn at random.

USA and Canada residents only please.

This contest is closed. Congratulations to Rosanne, comment # 132. You are the winner of thef fleur-de-lis laptop bag.

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Now don’t panic if you haven’t found the perfect outfit for your little prince or princess. Big style does come in small packages — you just need to know where to look and we’ve got the store for you.

Totsnstyle.com carries many of the same designer labels that fill your own closet, except in smaller (and much cuter) sizes for babies through tweens.

Wouldn’t your little guy look dapper in this blazer by Ben Sherman?

He’s sure to be warm and toasty in this Tobias V Neck Argyle sweater.

Everyone will fall in love at the sight of this dress on your little princess! This is a must have for every girl. An adorable knit ruffle bodice with bow in front from Twelfth Street Baby. Fur hoodie is also from Twelfth Street Baby.

Dressed to impress!

This bird embroidered dress with bubble hem in cotton sateen fabric is more than adorable. Perfect for the  holidays! Everyone will want to know where you got it.

It doesn’t get much lovelier than this gold silk flounce dress with matching ruffles at neck, hem, and 3/4 sleeves.

Your older girl will be a showstopper in this Larok Grommet Dress. This season’s all about the details and she can get that with this doubleknit boatneck dress with ruched sleeves and awesome grommet detail on hem.

No matter what outfit you choose from Tots N Style your child is sure to be the best dressed at the party this holiday season.

Shop now for 25% off new fall styles, free gift wrap and free shipping on all standard ground orders.

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• Starlooks Boutique for one stop shopping

In addition to the fab clothing offered, Uncommonly Cute also has a build-a-bootie feature where you can choose a style, color, and design plus your child’s name on a pair of booties. You really must check out this nifty feature!

The Lipstick to Crayons Sisters love philanthropy so we have to mention that Uncommonly Cute supports Room to Grow and R Baby Foundation by donating a portion of their profits as well as merchandise to those cuties in need.

We have two adorable Uncommonly Cute onesies to give away as part of our Christmas Giveaway Extravaganza.

Giveaway Guidelines:

Leave a comment with which tee you would like to win:

A pink short sleeve tee 3-6 month with “I give hugs and kisses”:

or

A white short sleeve tee 3-6 month with “Keepin’ it real…real cute”:

Give us some linky love. Either link back to the main Christmas Giveaway Extravaganza post and include our button in that post or on your sidebar, or link to the individual giveaways you choose to enter.

<a href=”http://lipsticktocrayons.com/2008/11/lipstick-to-crayons-big-christmas-giveaway-extravaganza.html” mce_href=”http://lipsticktocrayons.com/2008/11/lipstick-to-crayons-big-christmas-giveaway-extravaganza.html” target=”_blank”><img border=”0″ alt=”lipstick to crayons christmas giveaway extravaganza” src=”http://lipsticktocrayons.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/christmas125.jpg” mce_src=”http://lipsticktocrayons.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/christmas125.jpg”

You can find more button sizes here

Don’t have a blog? No worries. You can still leave a comment to be entered. Subscribe for email updates of the next giveaway.

Receive additional entries:

1. Subscribing to our mailing list/RSS feed and let us know in a separate comment
2. Twitter this giveaway and let us know in a separate comment
3. Favorite us on Technorati and let us know in a separate comment
4. Stumble this post and let us know in a separate comment

Let us know if you are already a subscriber to secure your additional entry.

Deadline to enter giveaways will be closed Monday, December 1 at 11:59pm central time. Be sure to include a valid email address. Winner will be randomly chosen via random.org and will be notified via email and announced on this post. If winner does not claim prize within 5 days of being contacted they will forfeit their prize to alternate winner who will be drawn at random.

You can find all the Christmas Giveaway prizes listed here.

Congrats to our winners, Valerie Mitchell (keepin’ it real) and Carol Drury (hugs and kisses)!

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Starlooks Boutique offers the best of children’s wear, toys, as well as gifts and clothes for the entire family. Best of all they feature Made in the USA products.

We especially love personalized products and Starlooks offers a wide selection of clothing and gifts. Here are a few of our favorites.

The luxurious 100% cotton sweater can be monogrammed and comes in sizes 0-12 months, 2T and 3T. Unlike most monogrammed items this sweater will ship out within four days which is great if you are looking for a personalized gift in a time crunch.

Dress to impress with the Strawberry Icing Ruffles Pink and Brown Birthday Set by one of our favorite designers Liliputians NYC. Features a fun shirt with your little birthday girl’s Birthday Number in a unique, curly, swirly number applique of a pink icing and strawberry print. All is served up on a yummy chocolate brown tee. The matching ruffled skirt comes in the strawberries and icing pink print. Three full ruffled tiers give the skirt lots of volume and a flirty silhouette. Handcrafted with love in NYC. Available in sizes 6 Months, 9 Months, 12 Months, 18 Months, 2T, 3T, 4T, 5, 6, 7, or 8.

Their beautiful clothing don’t stop there. The Sky Blue Lotus Euro Tunic is to-die-for as well as the Apron Skirts.Whether your looking for upscale or casual clothing, gifts, toys, all things for baby including furniture, bath products, jewelry, or stuff for moms and dads, Starlooks Boutique has it covered!

Sign up for the Starlooks newsletter to stay in the loop about any sales, coupon codes, contests, giveaways, and boutique news.

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• Tots N Style for the holidays

{ delicate tomboy } has a line of hand-dyed cotton tees and onesies (up to 18 months) that can let your rugrat make their statement. It’s hard to refuse their demands with adorable tees that read “Hug Me”, “Real Men Wear Pink”, or “Global Warming, It’s Not Cool”, just to name a few.

I know, you are feeling left out on the statement making tees. No worries, { delicate tomboy } has you covered. Literally. Show some attitude with their line of “never date a guy who” lessons on a hip and comfy tee.

All { delicate tomboy } garments are 100% cotton and hand-dyed for a custom, unique look. In keeping with the uniqueness { delicate tomboy } is known for, they also offer custom and personalized designs, which make perfect gifts!

Our favorite thing about { delicate tomboy } is their philanthropy. They donate all of the proceeds from the sales of their special dog graphics infant line to Pet Rescue, Inc., a nonprofit, no-kill pet shelter and rescue group based in Miami.

Whether you have a little one who has a message for the world or you want to share your dating advice, { delicate tomboy } knows how to get your message across in a hip and stylish way.

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I swear I was not paid for this glowing endorsement- heck I am about to rave about someone who technically is my competition.!That just shows how much I admire these ladies. I feel it is important to note that no money was exchanged for this posting. My praise comes from my own personal experience.

So, I can be quite flighty when it comes to keeping track of my inventory (just ask my sis who has heard quite a few stories about my shock at finding I really do not have any more bla bla dolls. Really? I swear I had one more……didn’t I?”). One of my regular (meaning repeat and one who graciously refers me to everyone) ordered these really cute hand knitted cupcakes. I emailed me her to tell her all was in stock and they would ship the next day. As I am packing up her order, Icannot find any more of the cupcakes. I really thought I had one left. See the problem is I also sell on amazon.com and this messes up my inventory count. Sure enough- I looked up my orders on amazon and I sold the last one a few weeks previously (the manufacturer was also out of stock). I just could not bring myself to tell my customer I had none left. So what did I do? I googled Yellow Label Kids handknitted cupcakes and came up with this store- Two Blue Peas. I was so relieved to see they had some in stock- which I promptly ordered. Yes, I had to pay retail plus shipping, but I could breathe easier knowing I came through for my customer. I have discovered that finding customers can be a challenge and once you have a loyal one, you want to hang on to them desperately (quite honestly, referrals are a huge source of business for me). Now I just had to hope that Two Blue Peas would quickly ship my order. You know how some stores require 3-4 business days for “processing”? By the way, what exactly are they “processing”? Literally, 30 minutes after I placed my order, I received a shipping notice. My package was on it’s way! Amazing- that is super quick service! My order arrived a few days later nicely wrapped. Completely professional.

After browsing, I found more to like about the 2 Blue Peas website. Their site is crisp, clean and uncluttered. It is easy to find what you are looking for and their offerings are not overwhelming. I really do not like shopping at sites with 50+ pages of clothing (or some other category) that I have to look through. Reading through their about me page, I detected bits of humor and am fairly sure the owners, Sarah and Helen don’t take themselves too seriously and are really having fun with their endeavor. I enjoyed reading their blog as it gave some insight into who the people are behind this business. They seem like 2 cool women I would hanging out with . Helen and Sara, thank you so much for helping me keep one of my customers happy! Best of luck to you both. Oh-they still have the really cute cupcakes in stock ( sadly, I am still out of stock).

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