gift – Urban Suburban Mommy

Hostess gifts & gratitude

Posted on December 7, 2016 by Sara Duck Posted in Mommy Approved .

This week The Modern Curator shares her best picks for hostess gifts and gratitude: 12 hostess gifts + write a perfect thank-you card

Master the art of gift giving, with these thoughtful hostess gifts!

Flowers are my go-to hostess gift. I don’t know anyone who doesn’t appreciate a gorgeous bouquet of blooms like the ones pictured below. Swoon!

The Farmboy, seasonally inspired bouquet from Tonic Blooms

Mini Designer Fragrance Set from Winners

Pink Champagne Truffles by Charbonnel & Walker from Amazon.ca

Porcelain Dessert Plate from HomeSense

Super Soft Yarn Dyed Scarf from Indigo

Pâtisserie At Home by Mélanie Dupuis from Anthropologie

Gold Dot Stemless Champagne Glasses from Indigo

David’s Top 12 Assorted Tea by Davids Tea

1815 Bright Mugs by Royal Doulton from The Bay

Gold French Press from HomeSense

Rosé Champagne by Moët & Chandon from LCBO

Lucky Charms Paris Scented Candle by Ladurée from Amara

Now that you have a great hostess gift in mind, it’s time to think about crafting the perfect thank-you card. As the world becomes more and more reliant on technology to communicate, the hand-written card has been pushed aside in favour of emojis, funny GIFs and memes to convey our thoughts and emotions. In fact, when it comes to writing a thank-you card, sometimes I find the large empty space daunting, and find myself at a loss for words.

Can you relate?

Here are six steps to keep your thank you card writing skills sharp as a tack!

1. Think about what you want to say before your pen touches the paper. This way your card will sound well thought out and you will minimize any spelling or grammatical errors. Take your time writing, so that it’s neat and legible!

2. Give the proper greeting (Dear is always nice) and use the correct form and spelling of the person’s name. If it’s a good friend, use their first name. If it is someone you don’t know particularly well, use Mr. or Mrs.

3. Begin your thank you card by expressing gratitude right away.

Thank you so much for…
I really appreciated the…
You made my day when…

4. Add specific detail about the gift you received, the meal you enjoyed, or whatever you are thankful for. Highlight how you plan to use the gift or why you enjoyed the meal.

That homemade au jus was perfection…
Your generous gift will go towards…

5. Use the card space as an opportunity to continue the connection with the person. Suggest tentative plans for the future.

Let’s get together soon…
I know about this great restaurant we should try…

6. Always end on a pleasant note, reiterating your thanks and with your warm regards.

Many thanks… your signature
Thanks again… your signature
With love… your signature

The Modern Curator

Sara Duck
TheModernCurator.ca
@SaraDuck

The Modern Curator

The Modern Currator

Urban Suburban Daddy’s gifts for new dads

Posted on April 25, 2016 by urbansuburbanmommy Posted in Mommy Approved, Urban Suburban Daddy .

Lets face it mamas, most of the gifts we get are from other mamas. Those guys don’t seem to go all gaga over baby registries – and even when it’s your hubby’s friend, he expects you to to pick something up for their new arrival.

A close friend just had a baby, and we couldn’t be more excited. Even though I’m dying to get my dose of newborn sweetness, I’m not sure when we’ll go over. We’re just not going to descend on their quiet home with the boys in tow. Sean really wanted to get them something and actually discussed it with me! While mamas are all about the list of necessities and the inside scoop on what the new mama needs, my Urban Suburban Daddy wanted to get something cute, sweet and more personal.

Conventional and useful weren’t as relevant.

So without further ado, here’s Urban Suburban Daddy’s baby gift list:

The Ramones Onesie

Pick your favourite band, could be The Ramones, Green Day, The Cure, AC DC – a rockstar onesie is the way to go. Sure it will endure the diaper blowouts and spitups like all the rest, but it still says “Yah, we’re good” like no little pink polka dot number could.

Art Work by Dan Tanenbaum at Art Interiors

Under Construction Series by Dan Tanenbaum at Art Interiors

Baby’s first piece of art – why not? If it’s not to juvenile, it’s something that can grow with them. And if you pick a great budding artist, who knows? It could actually be the present that keeps on giving if the artist’s career takes off!

Darth Vader Stuffie

Admittedly, mine is a Star Wars fan, so “something Star Wars” tops every gift list. Stuffies aren’t presents that mommies give each other, we’re way too practical for that – but kids do love them, and they need a few so that they can get really attached to one and have it to snuggle. Darth Vader fits the bill perfectly.

Van’s Checkerboard Slip-ons

Of course any self-respecting baby needs a good pair of kicks, and Urban Suburban Daddy was torn between the Van’s and the Jordans. While we know they won’t need them for a long time and will probably outgrow them before they see any milage at all, they’re pretty cute!

Crosley Cruiser Turntable

While mama might think of something a little more practical in the way of playing music, this really is a cute little number. They come in some great colours and have a jack for connecting your iPod or phone for audio. It’s perfect for DJ Diaper Pants since we know how much they like to stay up ALLLLLLLLL night!

While none of these will likely ever show up on any baby shower registry, sometimes something fun is just what the new parents need. And that’s okay. We like Urban Suburban Daddy’s take on gifts for the new dad, they give us hope that we haven’t entirely lost our edge!

Best gifts for new parents and baby

Posted on January 25, 2016 by urbansuburbanmommy Posted in Mommy Approved .

To be perfectly honest, there are always things you can get for baby. The usual – clothes, toys etc… But, the best gifts for new parents don’t have to be store bought. In fact, labour and love are the best things you can offer.

We compiled some gift essentials below if you want to think outside the box and really provide a meaningful gift beyond the norm.

Continue reading →

The Urban Suburban Daddy’s holiday wish list

Posted on November 12, 2015 by urbansuburbanmommy Posted in Urban Suburban Daddy .

So apparently my husband thinks I won the lotto and didn’t tell him. No socks or underwear aren’t on this year’s list. These holiday wish-list items are go-big-or-go-home – which means I will be working 3 jobs to complete this list! Kidding, that’s why it’s called a wish list…like you wish! I can definitely appreciate some of these items so don’t get me wrong, wait until he sees my list.

1. Nixon Watch

According to my husband, it can be just any Nixon watch. The new fashion trend for men is to wear thin dressy watches to work. The reason why the thin part is important is that you don’t want your watch to get caught in the sleeve of your dress shirt. Makes sense.

2. Toro Snowblower – Power Clear

Ok this one leans more towards a need vs. want. It’s a big ticket item which the Toro name is built to last. We live in the suburbs which means more snow – and a serious driveway. Sometimes the good ol’ shovel ain’t gonna cut it. My husband doesn’t want a big one – he’s not being greedy, he’s just trying to save on time and diminish back pain.

3. Samsung Note 4

My husband actually doesn’t want the newest Samsung phone (Note 5). He prefers the Note 4. Unlike the Note 4, The Note 5 does not allow you change the battery or increase memory (similar to the Apple phones). So here’s the hard part – try and track down a new Note 4. Kijjij it is….

4. Danby Wine Cooler (well actually his Beer Fridge)

This is of course a need and a want. Beer is an essential food group, right? My husband likes to entertain and having cold drinks readily available is important. Beer fridge. Check.

5. Dewalt Drill – 20 max volt combo kit (DEWALT DCK240C2 20-Volt MAX* Lithium-Ion Cordless Drill/Driver and Impact Driver Combo Kit)

Surprisingly, one of the least expensive things on the wish list. I am OK with this one. With this drill…I can put him to work!