Guide to Holiday Gift Giving: Part I

Holiday Gift Giving Tips for the Recession Conscious

1) Stick with a budget. It is not worth having to pay off your debt from the holidays for the next six months.

2) Only buy presents for the kids in your extended family.

3) Play Secret Santa (choose names and only buy for one family member).

4) Only do an ornament exchange (we do this with my husband's family along with the Secret Santa).

5) Give to charity instead.

6) Buy gift wrap after the holidays for the next year, save gift bags to reuse, or use a gift as a gift bag. Last year I bought my sister a backpack and filled it with school supplies and put it in a cellophane gift basket bag (that I had recycled) with a big bow on it instead of wrapping everything individually.

7) Use coupons and shop sales or shop online (to save gas). Use Upromise or Ebates when shopping online retailers. Upromise will give you a percentage back when purchasing from participating online retailers and the money can go into your child's 529 college account. Ebates will give you a percentage back (up to 25%) in the form of a quarterly check. Both of these programs are free.

8) If your relatives live far away and you are shopping online, have the gift sent directly to them.

9) Give the gift of time. Many organizations are always in need of volunteers.

10) Start a savings plan at the beginning of the new year, even if it is only a few bucks a week that you can spare. Some banks offer Christmas Club accounts. This way you don't get swept away with holiday stress over how to pay for "the merriest time of the year".

11) I know this is taboo but regifting is always an option (but you didn't hear it from me).

12) I found a good deal on one item this year and bought several for various people on my Christmas list. It's okay to buy the same thing for several people.

13) If you do have a long list of people to buy for, keep a list throughout the year of things these people mention wanting. As the holidays, approach keep an eye out for a good deal on those particular items.

Thankful Tuesday

Here a couple freebies and bargains for the week:

Martha Stewart and Aveeno are offering a free tote bag ($8 value). This offer is open to only U.S. residents and will arrive in 6-8 weeks once you fill out the online form. This offer is valued at $8. This offer is also mentioned on Martha Stewart.com. Thanks, Confessions of a Thrifty Mamma


Check out Amazon's free selection of MP3 downloads. There are over 1300 free songs available. Thanks, Freebies4Mom


Register at Right at Home (SC Johnson) and get a free Right At Home Holiday At Home gift basket. 2,000 will be given away each week starting on December 1st. If you are to late to get a free basket this week you can sign up again duirng the week of December 8th or December 15th.
This week's basket will include:

• 1 Ziploc Brand Medium Snap n'Seal Container
• 1 25-count box of Ziploc Brand Storage Bags
• 1 15-count box of Ziploc Brand Freezer Bags
• 1 Pack of Ziploc Brand Big Bags (with 3 different sizes of Big Bags)
• 1 package of Pledge Natural Beauty Wipes
• 1 Glade Scented Oil Candles Tin
• 1 Scrubbing Bubbles Toilet Cleaning Gel

Unfortunately, when I filled out the form it did not say whether or not I was one of the 2,000 so I will probably do it again next week anyway to be on the safe side. Thanks, Freebies4Mom

Get 7 free classic Christmas MP3 songs from Amazon. Thanks, Freebie Blogger

First Thoughts

This morning my daughter was trying to use one of her toys to "write" on the tv. I usually give her three warnings (unless it is something really bad or dangerous) and with the last warning I usually say, "last warning". Normally that is enough and she stops doing whatever it is that she shouldn't be doing. There have been times where she knows she has done something wrong (like banging a toy on the wall) and after her third warning she will do it again and then come to us and hand us the toy because she knows she is going to lose it. Other times she has put herself in timeout after just one warning. We then explain to her that she doesn't have to go to timeout if she listens to mommy and daddy.

This morning though was an exception. When I took her toy from her after her third warning, she looked at me and said "Hey! I was playing with that. Give it back." She has never uttered those words before. She's only two. My first thought was not about her attitude (boy does she have one of those on occasion) but "Wow, she used good grammar for a two year old". Can you tell I used to be a teacher? Sometimes that first thought that comes to mind takes you by surprise.

* This post was included in the 4th edition of Mom Link Round Up on Under the Golden Apple Tree on December 4th. If you haven't stopped by, please do so. There are many interesting and informative posts by other bloggers (and even some giveaways).

Secrets Girls Keep Book Review

I just finished reviewing the book Secrets Girls Keep: What Girls Hide (& Why) and How to Break the Stress of Silence by Carrie Silver-Stock. Silver-Stock is the founder of Girls With Dreams, a site for empowering girls that is also written by girls. As the mother of two little girls, I am glad that an author has addressed the challenges preteen and teen girls face and offered a practical way to overcome those challenges. Not only is this book a must have for any girl in middle school or high school but also for parents, school counselors, and teachers. It can be used to engage honest dialogue between girls, their peers, and adults.

Silver-Stock offers girls 7 tips that can be used to help girls deal with any challenge in their lives from self image and boys to school and cyber bullying. Girls can read one chapter or read the entire book from cover to cover. This book urges girls to reflect on their own thoughts and feelings and how they view the world around them. Above anything else, it stresses that they are not alone in the struggles they face.

Secrets Girls Keep: What Girls Hide (& Why) and How to Break the Stress of Silence is available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Borders.

Thank you to PR by the Book and The Product Review Place for the chance to review this book.

The Snowman's Song: A Christmas Story

Recently I had a chance to review the children's book The Snowman's Song: A Christmas Story by Marilee Joy Mayfield with illustrations by Tracy La Rue Hohn. I fell in love with this heartwarming story about believing in the impossible. Snowpeople communicate without sound. One little snowman mesmerized by the sounds of singing wants to also sing like the caroling children at Christmastime. Given hope by a cardinal, he realizes he needs to believe that he can sing before he can actually do so. With the help of a little girl and a prayer a Christmastime miracle occurs. This courageous snowman shows that nothing is impossible if you believe.

The illustrations are beautifully done in this charming hardcover book. You can see samples of the text and illustrations by clicking here. The book also comes with a bonus CD of the story being read by the author. The book can be purchased at the publisher's, Leaping Antelope Productions', website. For every copy of The Snowman's Song: A Christmas Story purchased this holiday season, a copy will be donated to a needy family. What a great gift to give this holiday season.

Thank you to Leaping Antelope and The Product Review Place for the chance to review this book.

Happy Thanksgiving to All

Hi Everyone,
I wanted to write a short note before Thanksgiving. My daughters are asleep and my husband is out with a friend. Our houseguests will not be here until midnight so I wanted to take a few minutes to jot down some thoughts before the holiday craziness begins.

What am I thankful for? My healthy family who is safe thanks to the people who serve in the armed forces and protect our great nation. I am thankful for the fact that while his pay has been reduced due to the tough economy, my husband still has a job. His job allows us enough leeway financially that I can still stay home with our beautiful daughters. I am thankful for all of the family and friends in our lives who love us unconditionally. I know that through whatever may happen in our lives there are people who will cheer us on in the good times or give us a hand up in the bad times. I am thankful for the sun that rises in the morning to signal a new day for I truly believe each day is a gift. Lastly, I want to thank everyone who has read my ramblings for the last few months and for your support. Thank you and have a wonderful Turkey Day!

Joy

Black Friday Survival Guide

1)Plan, Plan, Plan
I have already warned my husband that I am going out into the stores on Friday. He gave me "the look". The one that says "lady, your truly crazy". Yes, yes, I am. It truly is a battleground on Black Friday. Fighting for parking spaces, maneuvering carts, and dodging glares and aggressive shoppers. BlackFriday.org has the ads online already so you don't have to wait for them to arrive on your doorstep. All week I have been in contact with one of my closest friends who lives about a thousand miles away and we have discussed our strategies for which stores we'll hit first and when since some stores open at midnight and some open at 5 am or earlier. She joked that she was upset when her partner told people she worked with which shops had the best deals. When her partner pointed out that she had been talking to me all week about the best deals my friend replied that that was okay since I lived in PA while she's in FL. Heehee. I love the competitiveness of the shopping game on Friday with everyone jockeying for the best deals.

2)Be realistic.
If an item is hard to find before Black Friday it probably will be hard to find on Black Friday and beyond. Also, keep in mind that yes, it is going to be crazy out there.

3)Remember that if you miss some bargains they probably will be available on CyberMonday (online) or you may even find better deals closer to Christmas.

4)Wear light clothes.
It gets hot amidst those swarms of people. Also don't forget to pack a snack (if your like me I always carry my daughter's cheerios in my purse so I always have them if I forget some other type of fortification) and water. Stay hydrated.

5)Go out with a partner (if you can find someone crazy enough to go out with you).
This way you can split up, especially if you are looking for several popular items.

6)Be respectful.
It is not going to benefit anybody if you get frustrated, annoyed, or angry. Keep your cool.

7)Don't be seduced by those prices.
If you are on a budget, stick with it. Sometimes you may go home and realize that you bought way more "presents" than people you have to buy for and that you spent way over your budget. If spending is not an issue, and you find some really good deals, it always pays to buy extra and give to the needy (Salvation Army or Toys for Tots).

All in all, remember the 3 R's. Be respectful, be ready, and be realistic.

What To Do With Turkey Day Leftovers

1)After Thanksgiving sandwich
I had this at a restaurant several years ago and I always have at least one with Turkey day leftovers. On sourdough bread layer mayo, turkey, stuffing, and cranberry sauce. I know it sounds a little weird but it tastes sooo good.

2)Have a salad bar instead of having a big bowl of salad for everyone to share so that you can use the leftover veggies for other things. I can't take credit for coming up with this one. I read it in our local paper and thought it was a great tip.

3)Pasta salad
Use your leftover veggies from appetizers (we sometimes have a tray of veggies and dip for before dinner) or the salad bar. I usually just throw whatever veggies I have in the fridge with some pasta and Zesty Kraft Italian dressing for a quick meal or side dish.

4)Share the bounty
We always send guests home with food. You can also give it away to neighbors.

5)Browse online
There are some great recipes online that call for Thanksgiving leftovers. Some examples include: Emeril's Thanksgiving Leftovers Shepard's Pie, Associated Content Online has some great ideas for leftover turkey, uses for cranberry sauce are on iVilliage, and even Martha Stewart has some great ideas for using sweet potatoes, turkey, and mashed potatoes.

My Favorite Holiday Cookie Recipe

ACU's, Stiletto Shoes, and Pretty Pink Tutus is hosting a Cookie Recipe Swap as part of her Merry Mommies Christmas Carnival. She has a yummy recipe for sugar cookies that can be used to make three different types of cookies. I have a recipe in my little recipe box that I ripped out of a Family Circle magazine when I was in high school (back in the 1990s). My mother had subscribed to the magazine and I would often flip through it at breakfast, not because I cared about recipes, how to effectively clean windows, or how to redecorate a room, but just because I have always read at the table at breakfast. I am a true bibliophile. I will read anything and everything (even if it is just the back of the cereal box).

For the last several elections, Family Circle has asked the spouses of the presidential nominees to share their favorite cookie recipes. The readers of the magazine would then choose the winner of the bake-off. The winner's husband has for the last several elections, made it into the White House (until last year when Cindy McCain won but it was Michelle Obama's husband who won the election). One morning I stumbled across the recipe submitted by Hillary Clinton and Barbara Bush. Hillary Clinton's chocolate chip cookie recipe was made using rolled oats. It sounded yummy so I ripped out the recipe and made them one weekend. They were the best cookies I ever had. They were even better than my grandmother's recipe, which is saying something. They were chewy yet slightly crisp on the outside and chocolatey with a buttery finish. My mouth is watering just thinking about them. That recipe, ripped from a magazine and glued to an index card traveled with me to college, my first apartment, and to the home I now share with my husband. It's a little yellow around the edges and stained with debris from my cooking forays but I pull it out for holidays and when I get a craving that only these cookies can satisfy.

These cookies are a delightful comfort food but also a perfect holiday cookie because they are loved by almost everyone. They always get devoured when I put them out for gatherings.

This recipe is NOT my own and has been published numerous times in magazines and online.

Hillary Clinton's Chocolate Chip Cookies

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (unsifted)
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 cup vegetable shortening (Crisco)
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 eggs
• 2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
• 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips (or 1 12 oz. bag)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease cookie sheets. Combine flour, salt and baking soda. Beat together shortening, sugars and vanilla in a bowl until creamy. Add eggs, beating until light and fluffy. Gradually beat in flour mixture and rolled oats. Stir in chocolate chips. Drop a teaspoonsful of batter on to cookie sheets. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until golden. Cool cookies on sheets on wire rack for 2 minutes. Remove cookies to wire rack to cool completely.

Micky Mouse Cookie Cutter Giveaway

I am so excited. I got to review a mini Mickey Mouse cookie cutter from Cheapcookiecutters.com. I love making cookies with my daughter. She even has her own little apron to wear. This cookie cutter is perfect for little hands (it is 2 inches) and the Mickey Mouse shape made my daughter squeal with delight when she saw it because she loves Mickey Mouse. It seems very durable and heavier than most cookie cutters. This would make a wonderful stocking stuffer for a child or a Disney fan.

Cheap Cookie Cutters is owned by Chris Mueller and Karrie Pettit. Their company is relatively new but they certainly aim high. Their goal is to have the largest online selection of cookie cutters in the world by the end of 2010. They have a huge selection including vintage and rare cookie cutters.

Some of my favorite cookie cutters: The Cat in the Hat, the vintage Sesame Street Cookie Cutter Set, the alphabet, The Wizard of Oz, Penn State mascot (my alma mater) , and the dinosaurs.

Some of their more unusual cookie cutters include: the Greek alphabet, United States, superhero, structures (such as the Statue of Liberty), musical instruments, tools, and college mascots. They also have cookie cutters for every occasion and theme.

They can also make custom cookie cutters to your specifications. I never knew that option was out there. These will typically cost about $15-25 for the first one and then $3-$4 for each additional one. Imagine having a cookie cutter that only your family has.

The cookie cutters range in price from about $2.99 and up. This may seem a little pricey for a star or stocking cookie cutter that you can find in any grocery or craft store. The positives about this site include finding all the cookie cutters you are looking for in one place saving you time and money. I would definitely check out this site and see what they have to offer. Use the code 10off at checkout and get 10% off your order!

I will be giving away one mini Mickey Mouse cookie cutter ($3.99 value) stocking stuffer to one lucky person! To be entered to win you can do any (or all) of the following:

• Visit Cheap Cookie Cutters and leave a comment here telling me your favorite cookie cutter (Please also leave your email address if you do not follow through google connect so I can contact you if you win)
  
• Become a The Practical Mom Guide follower (don't forget to leave a comment telling me so)
  
• Blog about this site and giveaway and leave me a comment with a link to your post
• Tweet about this giveaway with a link back to this site and leave me a comment with a link to your tweet
  
• Add The Practical Mom Guide to your blogroll
  

If you do more than one of the above, please leave a separate comment for each. The contest will run until November 30th. This giveaway is open to U.S. residents only. I will randomly pick a winner and then post the winner here at The Practical Mom Guide and I will attempt to contact the individual. The winner will have 48 hours to contact me to claim their prize (which will be shipped directly from Cheap Cookie Cutters). Good luck!

A special thank you to Cheap Cookie Cutters and The Product Review Place for giving me the chance to review this product.

Updated 11/30-Congratulations to Clueless Mamma, who is the winner of the mini Mickey Mouse Cookie Cutter!

Thankful Thursday

I've been doing a lot of thinking about where I'm going with my blog and I've decided that I'll only post freebies or bargains about once or twice a week. This had been consuming a lot of my online blogging time and since there are already some really good sites out there to check for deals, I'm not going to continue focusing so much energy on this. Instead, I am going to focus on everyday life and writing posts about topics that help us as women (especially us as mommies) simplify our lives. At the bottom of this post I will include my favorite freebie/bargain sites. Enjoy browsing!

Become a fan of Philosophy and get a free 15 ml sample of their Gingerbread Man shower gel. It will arrive in 2-3 weeks, just in time for Christmas.

Become a fan of iTunes and get 20 free song downloads from their 20 Song Fall 2009 Sampler which includes Swell Season, Neko Case, Rancid, New Found Glory, and more.

Steaz is offering a coupon for a free 16 oz. Steaz Organic Iced Teaz. It is apparently available to use at any Target store.

SeeHere is still offering the 50 free photo Christmas cards (only 4 x 8 cards though) and envelopes with the coupon code freebies4mom-1109. This code expires November 30th. Don't wait until the last minute to order! Also I used the coupon code newbaby (for my daughter's baby announcement photo cards) and they were also free. I don't know when the newbaby code expires so I would use it ASAP.

My favorite freebie/bargain sites:
Freebies 4 Mom
Saving Cents with Sense
Frugal, Freebies, & Deals
The Freebie Blogger
Confessions of a Thrifty Mamma

Who Are You, My Child?

How is it that my daughter can wake up and be a totally different child from day to day. Can you tell how your day is going to go within the first five (okay, maybe fifteen) minutes? Yesterday, my two year old woke up and was a wild woman. I knew within minutes of her being awake and the tears that it was going to be one of those days. It was. Self fulfilling prophecy, since I was assuming she was going to be a handful, or am I a psychic mommy? Sweeping her toys off of the coffee table, pulling bills off of the island and ripping them in half (okay, so it's not like I would not like to do that to), stripping off her clothes and running around in her diaper and snow boots, attempting to sit on her four month old sister (during her tummy time) because she wanted a horsey ride, sticking Mr. Potato Head's body parts in her ears, and taking her glasses off and putting them in her mouth and then throwing them at the tv (did I mention that her glasses cost over $300) made me thankful when bedtime came.

This morning she woke up and greeted me with a "morning mommy" and a smile. When I sat on the couch nursing a bad migraine and explained to her why Mommy wasn't feeling good she crawled up next to me and kissed my head pronouncing, "dare Mommy, all bedder". Later, she took her sister's teethers which had fallen on the floor and took them to the sink asking if she could "wash teeders in bubbles". These days are the days I will remember when she is in her teens, 20s, 30s....I love being a mommy.