Noteworthy Memos-Review and Giveaway

**Update: this giveaway has ended. Thank you to all who entered. Winner will be announced soon. **

I don't know about you but I stress out a little bit when I have to give an adult a gift. I always want it to be perfect. I also want the recipient to know that I thought of them specifically when I bought the gift.

One of my favorite gifts to give is anything from Noteworthy Memos. My friend (and mompreneur) Jill started this company a few years back. She had an idea that was good and it took off from there.

I started giving the List Notes as gifts and people loved them. I even gave some to new moms with a picture of the baby on them. I also had some made as gifts for my sisters with a picture of the three of us on them.

Jill has since expanded her business to include Notecards, Planners and Artwork Notes. I love the idea that you can put your child's artwork on a pad of paper or notecard.

Last year I gave Kelly a "Mom's Menu" planner as a gift. She loved it! Each week she could plan her menu and then write it on the planner. She hung it on the refrigerator for the whole family to see...getting rid of the phrase "what's for dinner?"

Anything from Noteworthy Memos makes a great gift for Mother's Day. Grandmothers especially love getting them.

Please be sure to have your Mother's Day orders in by this Friday, April 29.

I am giving away one set of notecards to one lucky reader.

To enter, simply leave your first name, last initial and email address.

Giveaway ends Thursday, April 28 at 9:00 PM EST.

Click here to "like" Noteworthy Memos on Facebook.

Gift Idea for Children

I have a birthday party for a two year old this weekend and I had absolutely no idea what to get her. I always seem to get kids books as gifts. I wanted to do something different (and inexpensive). I decided to put together a beach bucket for her.

I had quite a few errands to run today, so it was easy to pick up things for the bucket as I made my way through my day.

My first stop was Old Navy where I picked up a cute little bathing suit for 60% off. Next, I went to the Christmas Tree Shops. I knew I could find a beach bucket for $1 and I wasn't disappointed. I also love CTS for sunscreen. They have a great selection and great prices (note-always check the expiration dates on sunscreen, wherever you happen to buy it). I also picked up a bag of sea shells to put on top of the completed bucket. After those two stores, I had to run to Target to pick up a few household essentials. There, I was able to find a cute little pair of sunglasses, a Sesame Street book and a blue sandcastle thingy, all for $1 each. Score! I took a quick peak down the wrapping paper isle and found some brown "grass" for the top of the bucket.

Here's what it looks like completed:

I had my sister write the child's name on it (she has way nicer penmanship than I do). I added the shells on the top to make it look beachy.

Total cost: less than $15.

If you think that's creative, you should check out the bucket my friend Kelly did. Click here to see it.

Gift Ideas

Are you struggling to find a gift for someone in your life? Something that won't cost you small fortune? Well, Loopy to the rescue!

Children:

For a child 2.5-5 I picked up some cookie cutters that spell out the child's name. Pair that with some Play-doh and you've got a cute, personalized, gift. Cost: around $8, depending of length of child's name

If they're under a year, stationery makes a great gift. Personalized notecards are the best! Moms (and Dads?) love seeing their baby's name on things.

Adults:

Magazines always make a great gift. It's a gift that keeps on giving. You know, like herpes. I kid, I kid. People don't always have time to sit and read an entire magazine, but it's great to get mail that isn't a bill.

Crate & Barrel has great inexpensive, holiday themed, gifts. You can pick up some cute hand towels or mugs or a yummy treat. Click here to see their $10 and under gifts.

Happy shopping!