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So fun @NECN this morning for a segment on father’s day gifts!  Here are my finds this year.

Tech Dad: Dad NEEDS a tablet and we love the Kindle Fire HD! The Kindle Fire HD is better for Video Streaming, Music, Books and Magazines than any other on the market. Kindle Fire HD 7” and 8.9” from $179 (special for father’s day makes great gifts for dad and amazon.com also has great cases from the Jack Spade collection.

 Outdoorsy Dad:  Keep bugs away from dad while he is outdoors. Plus, moms you will love this table top mosquito repeller!  The New Terminix ALLCLEAR Table Top Mosquito Repeller is an all natural portable mosquito repeller that is proven as effective as leading chemical brands. It protects up to 15×15 ft.  (225 sq. ft.), has a fan-based diffusion technology to circulate 100% safe, all-natural repellent of lemongrass, cinnamon, peppermint, & geranium oils and has an excellent value with 18 hours protection per refill. Cost:  $14.99 and includes unit, 2 AA batteries and 1 refill. Packs of 2 Refills sold separately, $6.99. Available at terminixallclear.com, homedepot.com, amazon.com, frontgate.com.  We also love the New Terminix ALLCLEAR SideKick Mosquito Repeller. It is an all natural, clip-able mosquito repeller. It provides 18 hours of protection per refill – 50% longer than the leading chemical options! The fan-based diffusion technology circulates 100% safe, all-natural repellent of lemongrass, cinnamon, peppermint, & geranium oils. It is non-toxic. Cost: $9.99 and includes 1 clip-able unit, 2 AAA batteries, 1 refill. Packs of 2 Refills sold separately, $5.99. Available at terminixallclear.com, homedepot.com, amazon.com.

We also love this product. It reminds me of when I was little and my dad used to swat flies with his tennis racket. The stinger portable bug zapper is just ingenious! Especially for killing on contact those scary spiders (yes, some men do have a fear of spiders!) It kills on contact with 3,000 volts of zapping power! It’s unique design uses no chemicals and costs $12.99 available at home depot.

If he does any activities outside send him out with THE BEST water bottle in the world! Klean Kanteen is the original stainless steel water bottle in fun colors. It is the only one we use!

We also love the selection at Lands End. Their I heart bags are great. We also love the cooler that looks like the tote bag and is just perfect for an outdoor celebration with dad. The cost is $39.50. Check out their selection at Sears and online – especially the comfy beach towels and other totes.

Traditional Dad: he needs his socks and underwear.  Ties, sock and briefs are still a good gift because if us women don’t buy them new items then when would they replace them?  Vermont based darn tough.com has great socks that come with a lifetime guarantee. They are family made and even if your dog chews a hole in them you will be sent a replacement. They are made in Vt by Cabot family, and third generation sock maker. 

Paxton 1345 is a Boston based company with cute boxers for both men and women. They are 100% Egyptian cotton made by a mom in the USA. The styles are named after New England locations like beantown, Brookline, as well as Edgartown, Falmouth and Harvard square.  Each pair also has a whimsical quote sewn into them. They are $39.50 and a monogram can be added for an additional $6.00.

For a fun, quirky gift we love the man candle collection from Yankee Candle. With such fun fragrances like Man Town and bacon there is sure to be one to light up his man cave. For under $30.00 it makes a nice fun gift.

Boston-based spreadshirt.com is a unique t-shirt company that you can even design a shirt yourself. We especially like the beantown T as it has a bottle opener built right in it. This one costs $35.49.  Use the code NECN for free standard shipping.

Disclosure: The above companies sent me the products to test out and review. All opinions are my own.

June is a very busy month. Not only are the kids summer swim and dive team practices starting, but there are birthday and graduation parties, end of the year sports parties and last practices and try outs for fall sports. We talked how to balance it all on today’s trendymomies report on 980 WCAP-AM. We also started talking about gifts for father’s day!

WCAPpart2June4

June is a very busy month. Not only are the kids summer swim and dive team practices starting, but there are birthday and graduation parties, end of the year sports parties and last practices and try outs for fall sports. We talked how to balance it all on today’s trendymomies report on 980 WCAP-AM. We also started talking about gifts for father’s day!

WCAPpart2June4

June is a very busy month. Not only are the kids summer swim and dive team practices starting, but there are birthday and graduation parties, end of the year sports parties and last practices and try outs for fall sports. We talked how to balance it all on today’s trendymomies report on 980 WCAP-AM. We also started talking about gifts for father’s day!

WCAPpart2June4

This day is always a tough day to go back to work after being off since Friday. It was a relaxing weekend but a cold one. There was actual snow in New Hampshire!   This is the weekend to kick off the summer. Are you ready?

This weekend we went swimming, played tennis, basketball and even got a game in of volleyball (seldon v. seldon)  at our swim and tennis club. It is our first year joining so the kids are excited.  There is still about four more weeks of school left so we will have to finish all the sporting events and then it’s on to swim, dive and tennis! Now let’s bring on the warm weather!

The forecast calls for sunny skies the next few days so bring on the flip flops and short sleeved t’s!  Whether you are a stay at home mom, working mom or work at home mom we all need to get dressed. For me I work at home and I do NOT wear sweatpants. I do get dressed for work every day but some days it’s hard to put together a good outfit.  Susan Kanoff, of  A Great New Look talked with us about her style tips, easy ways to dress, and what not to do in warm weather.

Q: Let’s start in the closet. Are there some do’s and don’ts for organizing a closet?

Well let me first say that when your closet is in good shape, getting dressed will be easier and less stressful.

My philosophy is to only keep pieces that

• Fit well
• Work well with your unique body shape
• Feel comfortable (important!)
• Are in good shape (no pills, rips, stains, etc…ditch those!)
• Work with other pieces in your closet. We all have those “orphans” that we just can’t seem to make work for one reason or another!
• Make you look and feel fabulous…you deserve it!!

Go through your clothes piece by piece and ask yourself these questions. If the answer is “no” to any of them, it’s time to get rid of some things!  Have some boxes or trash bags handy and sort discards by “toss”, consign (great way to make a few extra dollars!), and donate. You may also want to start an alteration bag. Sometimes a piece can be salvaged just by taking up the sleeves or shortening the hem.

If you can’t figure out what you’re wearing (or not wearing) try the hanger trick.  When you re-hang pieces that you’re wearing, face the hanger the opposite way.  In a few months you will notice a pattern. We tend to wear the same things over and over again—the statistics are that we wear only wear about 20% of our wardrobe. Sound familiar?

Q: Do you put together outfits or put all the shirts together, pants, etc?

Once you have done a thorough closet weeding, think about how you select your outfits and organize your closet in a way that works well for you. My personal preference is to group clothes together by categories and colors.  For instance, I put all my tops together separating them by sleeveless, blouses, long sleeve, etc. Then, I organize each category by color.  I do the same for pants, jackets, dresses, etc. It doesn’t matter how you categorize, the bottom line is to create a system that works for you, so getting dressed each morning is stress-free!
Q:  What’s in this season?

Spring is all about the bright and bold. One of my favorite stand-out colors this season is vibrant royal blue, which looks great on just about everyone. Try incorporating this color in jeans, a dress or top. If you’re a bit “color shy”, punch in color with accessories. A bright statement necklace, scarf or bag will transform an outfit from “just okay” to a show stopper!

The crisp black and white palette is also in for spring and you will see many graphic prints in this color combo.  Go edgy by mixing bold stripes with prints or keep it simple and classic with a pair of white jeans and a black tee. Either way, you’ll look so chic!

You will also see a lot of florals out there. Floral blazers, dresses and blouses are all in style this season and oh so feminine!

Q:  While we love our flip flops one should not wear into a traditional office?

Definitely not!! Flip-flops are for very casual attire and not for the office! Try peep-toe wedges or a fabulous sandal instead. If you’re in a conservative corporate environment such as the banking industry, sandals may not be option at all.  Although some offices have become ultra casual, I’m not a big fan of unprofessional attire. I always tell my clients to “step up” their work wardrobe & dress for the job they want!

The forecast calls for sunny skies the next few days so bring on the flip flops and short sleeved t’s!  Whether you are a stay at home mom, working mom or work at home mom we all need to get dressed. For me I work at home and I do NOT wear sweatpants. I do get dressed for work every day but some days it’s hard to put together a good outfit.  Susan Kanoff, of  A Great New Look talked with us about her style tips, easy ways to dress, and what not to do in warm weather.

Q: Let’s start in the closet. Are there some do’s and don’ts for organizing a closet?

Well let me first say that when your closet is in good shape, getting dressed will be easier and less stressful.

My philosophy is to only keep pieces that

• Fit well
• Work well with your unique body shape
• Feel comfortable (important!)
• Are in good shape (no pills, rips, stains, etc…ditch those!)
• Work with other pieces in your closet. We all have those “orphans” that we just can’t seem to make work for one reason or another!
• Make you look and feel fabulous…you deserve it!!

Go through your clothes piece by piece and ask yourself these questions. If the answer is “no” to any of them, it’s time to get rid of some things!  Have some boxes or trash bags handy and sort discards by “toss”, consign (great way to make a few extra dollars!), and donate. You may also want to start an alteration bag. Sometimes a piece can be salvaged just by taking up the sleeves or shortening the hem.

If you can’t figure out what you’re wearing (or not wearing) try the hanger trick.  When you re-hang pieces that you’re wearing, face the hanger the opposite way.  In a few months you will notice a pattern. We tend to wear the same things over and over again—the statistics are that we wear only wear about 20% of our wardrobe. Sound familiar?

Q: Do you put together outfits or put all the shirts together, pants, etc?

Once you have done a thorough closet weeding, think about how you select your outfits and organize your closet in a way that works well for you. My personal preference is to group clothes together by categories and colors.  For instance, I put all my tops together separating them by sleeveless, blouses, long sleeve, etc. Then, I organize each category by color.  I do the same for pants, jackets, dresses, etc. It doesn’t matter how you categorize, the bottom line is to create a system that works for you, so getting dressed each morning is stress-free!
Q:  What’s in this season?

Spring is all about the bright and bold. One of my favorite stand-out colors this season is vibrant royal blue, which looks great on just about everyone. Try incorporating this color in jeans, a dress or top. If you’re a bit “color shy”, punch in color with accessories. A bright statement necklace, scarf or bag will transform an outfit from “just okay” to a show stopper!

The crisp black and white palette is also in for spring and you will see many graphic prints in this color combo.  Go edgy by mixing bold stripes with prints or keep it simple and classic with a pair of white jeans and a black tee. Either way, you’ll look so chic!

You will also see a lot of florals out there. Floral blazers, dresses and blouses are all in style this season and oh so feminine!

Q:  While we love our flip flops one should not wear into a traditional office?

Definitely not!! Flip-flops are for very casual attire and not for the office! Try peep-toe wedges or a fabulous sandal instead. If you’re in a conservative corporate environment such as the banking industry, sandals may not be option at all.  Although some offices have become ultra casual, I’m not a big fan of unprofessional attire. I always tell my clients to “step up” their work wardrobe & dress for the job they want!

The forecast calls for sunny skies the next few days so bring on the flip flops and short sleeved t’s!  Whether you are a stay at home mom, working mom or work at home mom we all need to get dressed. For me I work at home and I do NOT wear sweatpants. I do get dressed for work every day but some days it’s hard to put together a good outfit.  Susan Kanoff, of  A Great New Look talked with us about her style tips, easy ways to dress, and what not to do in warm weather.

Q: Let’s start in the closet. Are there some do’s and don’ts for organizing a closet?

Well let me first say that when your closet is in good shape, getting dressed will be easier and less stressful.

My philosophy is to only keep pieces that

• Fit well
• Work well with your unique body shape
• Feel comfortable (important!)
• Are in good shape (no pills, rips, stains, etc…ditch those!)
• Work with other pieces in your closet. We all have those “orphans” that we just can’t seem to make work for one reason or another!
• Make you look and feel fabulous…you deserve it!!

Go through your clothes piece by piece and ask yourself these questions. If the answer is “no” to any of them, it’s time to get rid of some things!  Have some boxes or trash bags handy and sort discards by “toss”, consign (great way to make a few extra dollars!), and donate. You may also want to start an alteration bag. Sometimes a piece can be salvaged just by taking up the sleeves or shortening the hem.

If you can’t figure out what you’re wearing (or not wearing) try the hanger trick.  When you re-hang pieces that you’re wearing, face the hanger the opposite way.  In a few months you will notice a pattern. We tend to wear the same things over and over again—the statistics are that we wear only wear about 20% of our wardrobe. Sound familiar?

Q: Do you put together outfits or put all the shirts together, pants, etc?

Once you have done a thorough closet weeding, think about how you select your outfits and organize your closet in a way that works well for you. My personal preference is to group clothes together by categories and colors.  For instance, I put all my tops together separating them by sleeveless, blouses, long sleeve, etc. Then, I organize each category by color.  I do the same for pants, jackets, dresses, etc. It doesn’t matter how you categorize, the bottom line is to create a system that works for you, so getting dressed each morning is stress-free!
Q:  What’s in this season?

Spring is all about the bright and bold. One of my favorite stand-out colors this season is vibrant royal blue, which looks great on just about everyone. Try incorporating this color in jeans, a dress or top. If you’re a bit “color shy”, punch in color with accessories. A bright statement necklace, scarf or bag will transform an outfit from “just okay” to a show stopper!

The crisp black and white palette is also in for spring and you will see many graphic prints in this color combo.  Go edgy by mixing bold stripes with prints or keep it simple and classic with a pair of white jeans and a black tee. Either way, you’ll look so chic!

You will also see a lot of florals out there. Floral blazers, dresses and blouses are all in style this season and oh so feminine!

Q:  While we love our flip flops one should not wear into a traditional office?

Definitely not!! Flip-flops are for very casual attire and not for the office! Try peep-toe wedges or a fabulous sandal instead. If you’re in a conservative corporate environment such as the banking industry, sandals may not be option at all.  Although some offices have become ultra casual, I’m not a big fan of unprofessional attire. I always tell my clients to “step up” their work wardrobe & dress for the job they want!

This week on 980 WCAP-AM we were talking Mother’s Day gifts, online shopping, coupons and more. Listen in!

Trendymommies.com WCAP-AM April 30