Unique Wedding Boutique by The Palm Gifts has a great assortment of  monogrammed, preppy and super pleasing bags in tons of colors with polka dot ribbons, stripes, etc. They’re adorable and you can customize for each one of your bridesmaids! Preppy Monogrammed Gifts also has a wide selection of similar products worth checking out.

Monogrammed Canvas Tote Bag - $24 The Unique Wedding Boutique

  

Monogrammed Bridesmaid Tote- $28 The Unique Wedding Boutique

I love Vera. Vera Bradley has tons of totes in a million sizes, but this one is right around “Affordable” and you can still fill it with fun goodies and not feel bad about it. These bags last FOREVER. I got one as a HIGH-SCHOOL graduation gift  and I still have it today. Trust me that was a long time ago.

Vera Bradley Tote $46

Boat and Tote from L.L. Bean- $30- $34

Boat and Tote- Lobster $30-$34 L.L.Bean

Boat and Tote- Sand Dollar $30-$34 L.L. Bean

Patchwork Madras Tote $19.99-$29.99 L.L. Bean

Other really wonderful options include  J.Crew (which has some madras bags on sale now) and Vineyard Vines which has the new Sea Life bag AND new tote bags in their Collegiate (Cornell, Dartmough, BU, BC, NC State, UNC, Illinois, Ohio etc.) and NFL styles (Pats, Giants, Ravens, Redskins and Jets) fans in your bridal party… PLUS  your groom can grab matching Collegiate and NFL ties for the boys too!

Sea Life Bag $85- Vineyard Vines

New England Patriot Classic Tote- $95 Vineyard Vines

Dartmouth Collegiate Tote $95- Vineyard Vines

I’ll give you some ideas about when to put in them in the next few days

Personalized Cookbooks from TasteBook

So everyone has probably been invited to at least one kitchen shower in their lifetime right? Bring a gift and also fill out this retro recipe card and bring a kitchen doo hicky (mine= corkscrew, spatula, wooden spoon) that you can’t live without to throw in the doo hicky basket when you get there. Right?

Let me just preface this by saying I have nothing against the kitchen shower. In fact I rather like the kitchen shower. HOWEVER, the recipe cards could use a kick in the pants. I mean. I’ve tried the recipe card thing and they always end up falling between my stove and the counter. By the way they’re not very helpful down there and I’m currently waiting for “Braised Brussel Sprouts” to catch on fire down there…

Ok. So, my cousin got an invite to participate in a modern day kitchen shower where instead of bring recipe cards, everyone collaborates prior to the shower to create a personalized recipe book for the bride-to-be from all of her favorite ladies in waiting on one site.

Personalized Cookbooks from Tastebook

TasteBook, has turned the recipe card concept on its head and given it a modern day spin.  It’s a site that offers personalized, hard back, cook books with personalized recipes.  There are over 100,000 recipes from top sites, cookbooks and magazines to choose from OR you can input your own to make this a very special collaborative shower gift.

There are instructional videos on the site to help you figure out how to get started, but here’s a quick breakdown on starting your group gift for the bridal shower. First, choose a point person. You are in charge.

1. Go to the site and click Join (It’s FREE)

2. Click “Create a TasteBook” on the left hand side

3. Choose your cover- These are some pretty awesome photos, and you could do a few if you wanted to (Cupcake themes, Cookie Themes, Locally Grown, Vegetarian etc.)

4. Name your TasteBook  (Sara’s Cookbook: Recipes for a Lifetime, Erin’s Seasonal Cookbook, Meghan’ and Jon’s Newly-Wed Cookbook)

5. Now, you can either drag and drop recipes from existing TasteBooks, or import your own

I suggest importing your own, you can type it in right there and add your own personal photo. OR. You can choose from hundreds of recipes that are already available from Cooking Light, Coastal Living, Food & Wine, Epicurious and more!

Or you can import your own. (can you tell which I prefer?)

So once you have imported your recipe. Share it with the other people who will be attending the shower.

Send an email to the friends you want to help you collaborate, with your sign-in and password information. Everyone can then sign in and add a recipe to the TasteBook and personalize it by clicking on the “Create” “Recipe Page” Tab.

Once everyone has input their favorite recipes with photos, you (the responsible one) will go back in and order the TasteBook, adding a dedication page and forking over your credit card number.

The books start at $19.95 (those include 25 recipes) and range to $29.95 (50 recipes) and $39.95 (100 recipes). Someone pay for it or split it. Trust me this is pocket change in the grand scheme of your bridesmaid bank account withdrawals.

Once you have created and ordered your book, you can share it with all of the attendees via email, so everyone then can keep a copy of said TasteBook on file in their account on the site.  Here’s how you SHARE.

6. Click on the “Share” tab on the top

7. Select the TasteBook you want to share with friends and then import your address book from your e-mail account.

8. Click “Share TasteBook” and an email will be sent out to all of your friends!

Now, if you’re short on time and you waited until the last minute to do something cool for your bride-to-be you can always purchase a TasteBook that has already been created. Click “Shop TasteBooks” and you’ll see a whole bunch of organized books with titles like “Mostly Mediterranean, Classic Cocktails, and Stealthy healthy.

OR

You can search by the recipient, buying items…for the Organic and Healthy…for the Perfect Hostess or … for the Dessert Maven.

Also, you can keep  Grandma’s old shortbread recipe with the new digital version, by ordering recipe sleeves (Pack of 10- 7 x 10 for $4.95) to keep everything together.

Then….click the gift box box and get FREE GIFT WRAPPING with a personalized sticker. SO great!

My love affair with Froof continues…

I’m all for letting your bridesmaids carry whatever bag they want on the day of your wedding, but how cute are these clutch/wallet/cosmetic case bags from Made by Hank.   They are of course one of the many talented Etsy vendors, and I am a big fan of the froof on the bags! Fill it with some of your favorite makeup and skin care products and tuck it into an adorable welcome basket for the bachelorette, shower or wedding weekend for your bridesmaids, or buy each of your lovely ladies their own personal color as a thank you! Plus they are completly unique and totally affordable!

Made by Hank- Etsy $20

Made by Hank- Etsy $20

Made by Hank- Etsy $20

Made by Hank- Etsy $20

Made by Hank- Etsy $20 (back side of pink bag)

Made by Hank- Etsy $20

Made by Hank- Etsy $18

While monogramming is often left to the popped collar, prepster brigade I have to say, for bridesmaid gifts, and for wedding gifts, it’s kind of a nice thing to do. Not that the person you’re gifting is going to forget their own initials, but it’s just a little bit more fun than boring old registry gifts.  You can still buy them what they want on their registry, just add something personalized to make it more personal. 

Plus, monogrammed “stuff” turns into a great “possession to pass down”. Didn’t you know your unborn children are actually interested in crystal goblets with scripted initials on them.  They are.

Here are some of my favorite monogrammed swag for bridesmaids, guests and the bride-and groom-to- be.

  $14.99 Palm Gifts

I LOVE these coozies. First of all, you can monogram them and second of all you can pick your fabric. How great is that!? They’re so cute! Include them in welcome baskets, bridesmaid bags or hand them out at a casual BBQ style rehearsal dinner for guests to use.   They also make great shower and bachelorette party favors!  These are $14.00 from Palm Gifts.

 $18.00 Palm Gifts

So I don’t know how many people still use sleep masks. It’s kind of an indulgence that disappeared in the 80′s, but something tells me there’s a market… particularly on the Upper East side, but maybe… just maybe… it’s one of those things you would never be caught dead buying for yourself… but wouldn’t mind getting from someone else. These are adorable, and again you can personalize the fabric and the script. They would go perfectly in a bridesmaid swag bag for a bachelorette getaway, or in welcome baskets for guests for a small intimate wedding.  They are $18 from Palm Gifts.

 $20.00 at Palm Gifts

$10-$15 at Williams Sonoma

These are super cute and very practical. Not that bottles of wine should be left unfinished, but in case they ever are, these wooden wine-stoppers from The Palm Gifts, and sterling silver ones from Williams Sonom, with personalized initials are the perfect way to save some for later. pair them with stemless wine glasses and a corkscrew as a shower gift. They also make great bridesmaid gifts with a nice bottle of wine and a pair of monogrammed glasses. (See below)

 $16 for a Box of 10 Cards at The Palm Gifts

These are perfect to give as a bridesmaid gift with a beautiful pen, or stationary set. They are also a really great shower gift for the bride-to-be. Have her new initials monogrammed on the note cards and give them with a beautiful photo album, or desk set.

 $34 at The Palm Gifts

 $99 at Williams Sonoma

Perfect for the culinary loves in your life. Monogrammed cutting board would make a great shower gift for a bride-to-be along with a nice set of monogrammed knives from Williams- Sonoma, an adorable monogrammed apron and a fabulous cook book. 

 $54 for a Set of 4 at Williams-Sonoma 

$38 for a set of 2 from Williams-Sonoma

 $30- $85 Silver Plated Jewelry Box from Pottery Barn

This is a great bridesmaid gift. Put matching necklaces or earrings to be worn the day of the wedding inside and hand these beautiful silver boxes out at the rehearsal dinner. Your bridesmaids will thank you.

For the Guys:

 $34.00 Monogrammed Golf Balls at Red Envelope

For the groomsman who loves to golf, these monogrammed golf balls from Red Envelope are a great gift, especially when they’re paired with silver or brass finished golf club links, also from Red Envelope.

 $40 – $60 at Red Envelope  $40-$60 at Red Envelope

 Special- $48- $58 at Red Envelope

This nickel-plated, monogrammed humidor is perfect for groomsmen who like to light up from time to time. Cedar lined, this stogie home is perfect storage for a couple of cubans… Make it a really nice gift and add the cigars before you give them the box.