Holiday Gift Guide 2009

The Better Life Starter Kit from Better Life

No need to choke to death because of toxic fumes while cleaning ever again (and no more asthma attacks for me due to bleach!). Better Life to the rescue! No crappy solvents, silicones, VOC's, ethoxylates, petroleum-based ingredients or harsh surfactants. Started by Tim Barklage and Kevin Tibbs, Better Life makes clean happen with style. Get cleaning right away with The Better Life Starter Kit.

Available from Better Life

*Read the CleanHappens Blog, sign-up for the Better Life Newsletter and visit Better Life on Facebook and Twitter. Woohoo!

Bifford Shirt from Fat Tie

Have your little man look cooler than cool with a shirt from Fat Tie. Tees are made from super soft cotton and the ties are are made from jeersey knit. The Bifford Shirt shows you that ties that are more for the playground than the office. *Giggle.

Available from Fat Tie

*Read the Fat Tie Blog, sign-up for the Fat Tie Newsletter and catch them on Twitter. Oh yeah!

Cardinal 3-Piece Setting from Marywibis

I hate plain looking plates and those ones by Corelle really make me wanna face-punch someone (I'm still haunted by the ones my parents have had for more than 30 years!). But when I look at all the stuff from Mary of Marywibis, I feel all warm and fuzzy inside. These pieces are handpainted. Handpainted!! And look oh-so pretty.

Available from Marywibis

*Check-out Mary's blog and fan her on Facebook. Yippeee!

Changing Pad Sets from Wilde Fig

I LOVE handmade. It's become my anthem and Wilde Fig's got a whole store full handmade stuff for you and baby. Everything in the store is handmade in Portland, Orgeon (I heart that city!) with lots of love. They'e got some cute, functional and affordable changing pad sheets that will add some color to an otherwise yucky event.

Available from Wilde Fig

*Get on Wilde Fig's email list, read their blog and read their tweets on Twitter. Choo! Choo!

Eat Your Feelings: Recipes for Self-Loathing by Heather Whaley

If it weren't for snarky people, how would I survive? Thank goodness for Heather Whaley and her fabulously, snarky, tongue-in-cheek book, Eat Your Feelings. Not only is it snarky, it's chock-full o' recipes that you can actually make and eat and it tastes good! My dream present.

Available from your local bookstore, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, etc.

*Visit Heather on her blog, Eat Your Feelings for more fab and snarky recipes and follow her on Twitter. Holla!

Peppermint Eucalyptus Olive Oil Soap from Bazil Essentials

Bar soap is my dirty little secret - I'm so obsessed with soap. Is that so wrong? And when they're cruelty-free, vegan-approved, I covet them even more. Bazil Essentials is doing right with olive oil soap made with essential oils and fantastic scents like Basil Blossom, Jasmine Rose and Lemongrass. *Drool, drool. They've even got soy candles like Cherry Almond, Spiced Cocoa Mint and Vanilla and Lavendar. Calm, simple, sensual.

Available from Bazil Essentials

*DISCOUNT ALERT!! Receive a 25% discount off the purchase price (25% will be refunded back to you). Please use discount code fashionslinger. Also FREE SHIPPING on all orders over $75 after discount has been taken. Cool.

Organic Fruit Snacks from Tastybaby

Why are you surprised that there is food in my gift guide? I'm always looking for healthier snacks for the kids - stuff that doesn't have crap like high fructose corn syrup, artificial colors and preservatives. AND more importantly, the kids have to love it. My kids love the fruit snacks from Tastybaby and did I tell you they're USDA Certified Organic? Tastybaby also makes frozen purees and infant cereal - all certified organic.

Visit Tasty Baby for more information about where you can purchase these yummy products.

*Read the Tastybaby blog and visit them on Facebook, MySpace and Twitter. Sah-weet!

Origami Green Handbag from Blonde Birdie

Handbags, like food, are my downfall. Why is it that us girls need so many handbags? I just adore this Origami Green Handbag - colorful, modern and stylish. And it comes from a sweet online boutique called Blonde Birdie. You'll find a bunch of surprising things at Blonde Birdie that you'll crave and swoon over.

Available at Blonde Birdie

*Don't forget to read the Blonde Birdie blog. High-five!

Rhinestone Shoe Clips from Absolutely Audrey

Another confession: I have lotsa shoes. This is what you call having no self-control. Although it's pretty impossible for me to buy shoes whenever the heck I want, I like change and new things. Lucky for me, I discovered Absolutely Audrey and the absolutely gorge shoe clips there, like this blue rhinestone one. Oh yeah, I can totally throw down some dinero on this site.

Available at Absolutely Audrey

*Check-out Absolutely Audrey's blog and follow on Facebook and Twitter. Do it!

Ships Ahoy V-Neck from Crywolf Clothing

I spend most days lounging in t-shirts. Don't judge me - tees are comfortable and you can dress them up or dress them down. I'm so digging the Ships Ahoy V-Neck tee from Crywolf Clothing. So whimsical and super soft. I'd better put in an order of a dozen tees... There's also hoodies, tanks, bags, buttons and stickers. My holiday wishlist is getting really long now.

Available from Crywolf Clothing

Stay in the loop with Crywolf Clothing's blog. Yipppeeee!

Stole Yer Bike Card from Snarky Cards

When I first saw the cards from Alisa Star of Snarky Cards, water came out my nose from laughing so hard. Her cards are honest, funny and best of all, the snarkiest of snarky. When you just don't have the words to tell that special someone stop stalking you, grab one of Alisa's cards and you'll definitely get your point across with some humor. Snarky Cards are hand painted by Alisa and typewritten with her trustworthy Smith-Corona, Bob. Caution: many cards are rated R - I fucking love it!!

Available from Snarky Cards

*Get your laugh on at Alisa's blog. *Snort!

Dragonfly Stainless Steel Bottle from Earthlust

According to Earth911.com, Americans buy more than 29 billion plastic water bottles every year and 8 out of 10 of those bottles end up in the landfill. Not cool. Get with 21st century and stop drinking water from plastic bottles. Be green and stylish instead with this modern Dragonfly 20 oz. Stainless Steel Bottle from Earthlust. Made from food grade stainless steel with BPA-free polypropelene #5 caps and free of BPA, Phthalates and PVC Earthlust bottles are an obvious choice for your life.

Available from Earthlust

*Fan Earthlust on Facebook. Don't get left behind!

Bright & Sparkling New Year Holiday Party Invitations

It wouldn't be the holidays if there weren't any parties, right? If there were no parties people couldn't gossip about who was kissing who under the mistletoe, who had too much to drink and who was seen making-out with Jolly Old St. Nick. For your holiday party this year, stop over at Minted.com and get these delightful holiday party invitations. Exciting and modern, these invitations are totally customizable: choose the amount of invitations you need, the type of paper (they even offer 100% recycled paper!), message, font and color. Beyond cool.

Available at Minted.com

*DISCOUNT ALERT!! Receive 15% off ALL holiday cards, holiday party invitations and holiday menus. Please use coupon code: SLNGR15. You may jump for joy now.

Octopus Baby Doll Dress from ShanaLogic

Dresses are awesome: unlike jeans you don't have a meddlesome, unforgiving wasitband to deal with and you don't have to unbutton or unzip anything when you eat too much (what? I've never done such a thing!). And this Octopus Baby Doll dress from ShanaLogic is modern and sweet. Wear it with leggings, tights or as is and you'll be sure to turn heads.

You can also find a grand assortment of handmade items made by independent arists at ShanaLogic. Get out your wallet 'cuz you'll wanna spend some money there. Promise.

Available from ShanaLogic

*Catch-up with ShanaLogic on their blog and socialize with them on Facebook, Flickr, MySpace and Twitter. Squeeee!

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What girl doesn't love shoes? I mean really. I wish I had a pair of shoes for every day of the year. But I don't and I'm sure you don't and if you do, I'm jealous. What you do, though, is give your shoes a total makeover.

Get shoe cuffs and spats from jdotdesigns and you'll be smiling, I know it. Handmade with feathers, leather and sequins, you can easily change-up a plain pair of shoes into something spectacular! Don't forget to checkout the wrist cuffs and belts - so, so covet those...

DISCOUNT ALERT!! Receive FREE SHIPPING when you mention The Fashion Slinger when purchasing product from jdotdesigns

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There's somethine so perfect about t-shirts. You can wear them with shorts, jeans, skirts. You can wear them to work, you can wear them going out and you can most definitely wear them to sleep at night.

The tees from Pardon My French are tres magnifique! So fashion-forward and exudes streetwear chic and eclectic style. These tees need to be in my closet and they definitely need to be in yours!

DISCOUNT ALERT!! Take 50% off your ENTIRE Pardon My French order. Please use discount code: Fashionslinger.