Photo by Paul and Jill

Yesterday we published Part 1 of this post with a list of some of the coolest Finds featuring iconic and classic Day of the Dead symbols such as calaveras and calacas.
Today we continue with the feast. Enjoy!

Chocolate Day of the Dead Skulls

One of the most traditional aspects of a Día de los Muertos celebration are the chocolate and sugar calaveras, or skulls, you get and give as gifts.  It´s usual to personalize it with the name of the person you´re giving it to.  It´s wonderful to walk into Mexican markets around these days and see stalls full of these sweet and colorful confections.  I found an Etsy shop by the name of 2gorditas that makes these skulls by hand out of yummy white chocolate and hand-paints them, making each one truly unique.  For $15 you get a gift box with 6 chocolate skulls to give away as treats, favors or to use as cupcake toppers.  Oh yeah, you can also indulge in them all by yourself!  ¡Se vale!

Dia de los Muertos Sticker Book

Stickers make every kid happy.  This book has 25 vibrant stickers that celebrate Day of the Dead in English and Spanish.  It also introduces children to this traditional holiday and the festival atmosphere that accompanies it.  I’m also loving the $4.95 price tag on it.  You can find it on Amazon, via La Tiendita.

Muertos T-shirt for Dad

Have papá get in the Day of the Dead mood with this rocking t-shirt from the SleepyManatee Etsy shop.  He can do both Halloween and Muertos with this one and style it out.  This Find is available for $14 here.

Day of the Dead Crafts Book

I´m still  in search of my crafty bone (no pun intended!), but it seems to be hiding deep with in.  This book is perfect to at least inspire me to create Día de los Muertos inspired objects such as calacas, masks, skulls, altars and ofrendas (gifts) to place on the altars we make.  There are more than 24 projects that celebrate the festivity, making it a perfect starting point to gather your family around the theme.  It´s discounted at $13.95 in La Tiendita.

Las Flores de la Muerte

Frida Kahlo is one of the artists responsible for making the Day of the Dead celebration more widely known of and focusing on its mystical, colorful and joyous aspect.  This is a print from My Pink Turtle Studio that features a Frida and skulls wrapped in flower petals.  I had to include it as a find for it´s unique take and the gorgeous use of colors and patterns to bring this piece to life.  The print is an 8 x 10 reproduction of a folk art collage painting and will only cost you $15 to treasure it.  Go here to get it while they still have them.

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Secret Phrase: "One of the greatest feats of human development is the acquisition of language. "

While many are busy getting ready for Halloween, we want to spice things up a bit for the bicultural families amongst us with a little Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) feast.

Day of the Dead is celebrated on November 1st in Mexico and some Latin American countries.  It´s a day to remember the loved ones in our lives that have passed on.  We remember them with joy and happiness.

Latinos know how to turn everything into a fiesta and give it color!  Typical Día de Muertos iconic figures include the vibrant calacas, or skeletons, and calaveras, or skulls.  We´ve rounded up the coolest finds around the web of decorations, clothing, accesories and books featuring dancing and smiling calacas y calaveras for your very own Muertos celebration.

Handmade Skull Garland

We found this garland, and the one pictured above, in Raw Bone Studio´s Etsy shop.  You get eight colorful and handmade felt skulls with different whimsical expressions.  Nothing dark or spooky here!  Garlands always set the tone.

They are a bit pricey for $40, but this is something you can store away in your Día de Muertos box and bring out every year.  The memories it will bring your kids every year will surely amount to much more.

Skull Ornament

Nine ornaments made to resemble the typical sugar skulls kids get as treats during this holiday. Each ornament is handmade with soft, lightweight fabric so you can hang these unique pieces anywhere you want to add some Muertos cheer.  We found these at Miss Butler´s Etsy shop for $45.  Think Muerto´s heirloom at its best.

EL FESTIVAL DE LAS CALAVERAS

This book´s complete title is Festival of Bones/El Festival de las Calavera: The Little-Bitty Book for the Day of the Dead. Author and illustrator Luis San Vicente created a bilingual (English/Spanish) book that´s perfect for young readers to learn more about the Day of the Dead and the festive, yet respectful, atmosphere that surrounds it. So festive, even skeletons dress up to party!
Find this book for $10.17 in La Tiendita.

Skull Felt Baby Shoes

Cute, cute, cute!  Franny and June´s Etsy shop has adorable and unique handmade felt shoes that you will want to get for every baby in your life.  They´ve made a girl´s and a boy´s version for  Día de los Muertos decorated with embroidered sugar skulls you´ll want to eat off!  Get a pair for $24 at their online store.

Skull Pendant

A skull pendant with colorful Buri beads from WinkArtisans brings the bling to the holiday and elevates the Day of the Dead calavera to a fashion statement.  Find it at their Etsy shop for $4o.

We still have more Día de Muertos Finds to share with you.  We´ll see you here tomorrow for the second part of this calaca and calavera feast!

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Secret Phrase: "One of the greatest feats of human development is the acquisition of language. "

Everybody was raving about my newborn son at a recent family + friend’s get-together – and it wasn’t only because some were meeting him for the very first time. The main reason is that he is PRECIOSO (ok, I’m a little biased ) and now he has the clothes for all the world to know!

When I got Latin Baby’s Precioso onesie in the mail, I chuckled because that’s probably one of the terms of endearment I use the most with my newborn son. I used to do the same with my daughter when she was a baby. I don’t even know why that word and not “lindo” or “chulo,” but I must not be the only one if this bodysuit in particular is one of the most popular clothing items, according to Monica, owner of Latin Baby.

The bodysuit is 100% cotton – meaning it’s really soft which is perfect for a newborn. It comes in either light blue, pink or white. The design is available in both bodysuits (sizes newborn, 6 and 12 months) and T-shirts (sizes 2T, 4T and 6T) and for both niñas y niños. They are part of Latin Baby’s “Con Amor” collection which also includes the design “Mi Cariño.”

And, if you’re looking for a baby shower gift with Latino flair, you can also get the bodysuit as part of the online boutique’s Newborn Gift Set which includes a Gordito/a, bib and a gorrito by Los Pollitos Dicen. Another bestseller which you can actually win in the giveaway below!

A Giveaway!!

This giveaway is now closed.  Congratulations to our winner #19: Kristy!

We’re giving away a Newborn Gift Set, like the one pictured above, to one lucky winner!  For a chance to win visit Latin Baby website and come back to leave us a comment telling us what is your favorite product and why.

That’s all you have to do to enter this giveaway.  If you want to up your chances at winning, then click here to learn how to get additional entries.

This giveaway ends Sunday, October 11, 2009 at midnight EST.

For the part that nobody likes, but we’ve gotta have, check out the Giveaway Rules.

{Make sure you’re subscribed to the SBFinds feed via email or RSS so that you can be notified of our weekly Finds, special discounts and more awesome giveaways.}

Secret Phrase: "One of the greatest feats of human development is the acquisition of language. "