Check us out in Time Out New York’s Wedding Guide!

Thanks Time Out New York for giving us some shout outs in their Wedding Guide! I love the titles on their features: “Groomsmen/ Bridesmaid  Gifts That Don’t Suck” Ha!! (It’s true, I don’t need another paperweight?!?!) First up in the Groomsmen category is our MAN CAN:

A whole paint can kit just for him filled with- 1 bar of manly soap, 1 extremely spicy shaving gel, 1 very masculine bay rum oil, 1 really scratchy body mitt, 1 jar of fisherman’s hand butter- love the lingo- “there’s nothing tougher than a fisherman- except maybe a woman.” Man Can-$48.

And then for the Bridesmaids- we have the fun & functional Bridesmaid Survival Kit- 20 Emergency Survival Essentials. the kit features 20 miniaturized must- haves tucked inside a slim, silver clutch. With so many solutions in one compact place, this survival kit should never leave a bridesmaid’s side. Contains 20 emergency essentials: Folding Hair Brush with mirror, Hair Spray, clear elastics, bobby pins, earring backs, emery board, clear nail polish, nail polish remover, mending kit, double-sided tape, stain remover, static remover, breath-freshener, deodorant towelette, tampon, adhesive Bandages, pain reliever, facial tissues, blotting tissues and dancing socks. Bridesmaid Survival Kit- $20.

NY Magazine Wedding Event- FUN!!

We had a GREAT time at the New York Magazine Wedding Event on Wednesday evening at the Met Pavillion in Chelsea. I was a bad girl though and completely was so in the moment the whole time we were there that I totally forgot to take any pictures of our cute table. Of course I remembered when we had packed everything away so that is a little picture of me above toting out our haul when the event wrapped up. If you are getting married anytime soon, or know anyone who is- send them our way for great ideas for Wedding Favors and Gifts for the Bridal Party, Flower Girls, Ring Bearers, Kids Table Goodies, whatever!! At the event we pulled together some cute welcome baskets for out of town guests, bundles of treats for the little ones, and tons of ideas to make your special day even more memorable. It’s all in the details as we know, and we can help you with that! Please check out our wedding items online, as well as other sections on our site like Goodies & Gags (I can’t tell you what a big hit the Stylish Mustaches were- image grandma in a ball gown, dancing with a mustache, PRICELESS photo op, and great for Photo booths too) and Brooklyn (Handy Heart Maps, Maptotes, all major hits!), for ideas for treats for the guests. And I would LOVE to help you personalize your treats so they are uniquely your own, just email me and we can start the ideas rolling! Cheers! ann@blueribbongeneralstore.com

Bride Ideas & New York Magazine Weddings Issue and Event 4/7

Seems like it’s always wedding season these days as couple’s tie the knot twelve months of the year nowadays. To help make things easier, and MORE FUN, we pulled together some of our favorite Wedding and Bridal Party Ideas online in a new section on our website- check it out here. Two of the newest items to our shop and the market are these Emergency Essentials Kits from Ms. and Mrs. (the same wonderful team that brought us the indispensable minimergency kit) filled with all sorts of wedding day emergency essentials for Brides and their wonderful Bridesmaids. You can check out the full descriptions here- Bridessential Kit- $25, Bridesmaid’s Survival Kit- $20.

And don’t forget another fun tradition– the favors for the guests! The Summer 2010 New York Magazine Wedding Issue is out on the newstand and we are excited to be included in their list of “wedding mementos the guests will actually use!”– such as our Sunprint Kit, “a nostalgia trip for everyone who took seventh-grade science.”

We’ve got some other fun ideas too- like our Gardens- in-a- Bag, Set of Mustaches, Tote Bags, Stitching Postcards or we would love to help you come up with some personal ideas for your Big Day! Just email us at ann@blueribbongeneralstore.com to set up a chat! And if you are getting hitched, join us at New York Magazine’s Wedding Event at the Met Pavillion on April 7th from 5-8pm.  More info here–

“AWESOME!” our minimergency kit

Gotta love when a customer sends you an email with the subject “AWESOME!” – which is exactly what I got the other day from our customer/friend Lolly after she bought the Minimergency kit. She took a picture (above) of all the stuff that fit in the little silver container and said that the “Minimergancy kit helps a girl stay a lady-like in the big city! It saved my dignity on many occasions!” We have been selling a ton of them and just got more in stock- here is a full picture and list of everything in the little (3.5″ x 1.75″ x 2.5″) kit:

Contents: Hairspray, Clear Nail Polish, Nail Polish Remover, Emery Board, Lip Balm, Earring Backs, Clear Elastics, Sewing Kit, Double-Sided Tape, Stain Remover, Deodorant Towelette, Pain Reliever, Tampon, Breath Freshener, Dental Floss, and Adhesive Bandages. All that is swanky silver case for  $10.

Anniversary Time!

Today is my (OUR!) One Year Anniversary- yeah!! We are celebrating tonight, but in thinking of what to get my man, I realized how many Weddings there are this time of the year, sooo therefore how many Anniversary’s there must be too! We got some great new Anniversary cards in (including the one above from Hello! Lucky, $4.50) and so I also thought I would pull together some thoughtful and clever present ideas that won’t break the bank. I took the Traditional Anniversary gift guide as a starting point and went from there…

ONE YEAR……PAPER

So, I obviously got Rob a card (maybe Rob will make me one!!) but I also got him this cool NYC graffiti coloring book. All the pages are left b&w so you can color in as you like (the back shows them all complete as they are on the streets). $15.75.

(only going to do the major anniversaries folks…)

FIVE……WOOD

Knock on Wood we will make it to (atleast!!!) number five, but in the meantime I thought this one up on the fly for a customer who was going to visit a couple who had just moved into a new apartment and it was also there anniversary– check out the cute card from Seltzer ($3.50) & the E-Z Chopsticks (held together with a silver wire, like long Laundry clothespins) we paired with it (4 sets in a a nice silver bag, $9.95).

FYI– year six is candy– that is right up my alley! can’t wait for 2014!

TEN……TIN (um, Tin? what is up with that)

These Tin Lanterns are made from Recyled Metal Cans– very fun and colorful and the little doors open for you to put candles inside- $49.99.

TWENTY……CHINA

Hmm, well since we are going off a bit here, I found something cool that is MADE IN CHINA (designed in Japan, assembled in China)! It is an awesome Black Bird, Fly twin- reflex camera to document the second half of your marriage. The two of you, two lenses…. something like that. It uses 35mm film and takes amazing pictures.  $130 (also available in white, red and orange).

Mustaches, mustaches, mustaches…

Lately the most requested item in the shop has been MUSTACHES!!! Check out my former colleague and friend (and super cute girl!!!) Kate wearing one above– they are soo fun and make every event into a party! People buy them for kids parties, adults buy them on the way to brunch to liven up the conversation, people bring them to family outings to lighten up the mood, etc. I particularly think it’s funny when 6 year old girls buy them (VERY popular amongst this age & gender!! who knew?!). So, WE HEARD YOU PEOPLE– we have LOTS of mustaches now– check out these Stylish versions (also available on website)– 7 separate ones for every day of the week– $6.75.

Pencil thin variety- $4.95.

And the infamous Party Mustache- $2.95.

We even got in a funny mug with lots of mustaches on it (great Father’s Day Gift!)- $12.95.

Also-  here is a fun idea from a Designer friend/customer/vendor- Jill Kotulka/ Punkahontas– involving mustaches .  For her wedding their invitation said “Dinner, Dancing and Mischief” and  after their pretty formal wedding they told everyone to look under their chairs and there were boxes of Mustaches, Tiaras, Feather Boas, etc.  No one knew- not even their parents! Here are some pics- looks like it was a hit, and a fun way to end an otherwise very formal affair. That Jill, she’s soo clever

wedding photos by Mike Kehr Photography

I must give Jill credit for even having mustaches in the shop right now because she was the final straw in people asking me for them (we had them for Halloween, but did not realize they were a year round thing!). She pointed out that mustaches are always more fun when lots of people have them…. and her friend needed them for a high school reunion. Apparently MUSTACHES ARE ALWAYS IN SEASON!!!

p.s. we also got a little shout-out about these on Daily Candy New York last week-very exciting!

Wedding Bells at the shop

We set up a pretty wedding table last week- complete with some clever, thoughtful and fun wedding/shower & bachelorrette ideas. I actually got married last year and stupidly never once thought, “oh wait– I need to get some cool stuff for the shop too!,” so after many requests here are some of highlights from our Wedding table-

“Here comes the Bride” paper dolls. Perfect for the Bride, Bridesmaids, Flower Girls (keep the little ones busy during the big day!)- $18.95.

Beautiful “Bride” Pajama top- perfect for the Bride to get ready in on her wedding day (even an easy to button front closure for getting her hair done)- and for the honeymoon too!! Something she will have forever and always, to remind her of her special day. $60.

Love these Boxers for the Groom! I was looking for something like this to give to Rob last year when we got married- “Groom” is embroidered on the front and “Taken” is on the back- $30, Medium and Large.

Wedding Cookie Cutters- perfect for a Shower, or Engagement party– or for getting ready on wedding day. $12.

Don’ts for Husbands, Don’ts For Wives- Hilarious and full of wisdom from 1913. $4.95 each.

For the cynic- Worst Case Scenario Weddings- $14.95.

And for Bachelorette Parties & Wedding Showers— fun things without getting cheasy (hard to do!)-

Everyone loves Mad Libs– can’t go wrong for $3.99.

Prince Charming Bottle Openers- Fun and functional, and a lovely present $16.

Wedding Shower and Bachelorette Table Topics to Go- $9.00

Ring Pops- everyone needs some of these!!! $1.25.

Dear Cabbie Napkins– $3 for 12 pcs.

LOVE THESE- Nest Eggs

Alright, so I know I am always gushing about my NEW FAVORITE item at the shop, but the latest box I unpacked has to be in the top 5 of all times favorites– THE NEST EGG!! A (approximately) 5″ egg that is a bank with the clever packaging of a “nest egg.” Perfect for these times, or ANYTIME. Great Wedding Shower or Baby Shower present too. $29.95.