Since Valentine's Day arrives less than two months after Christmas, I was wondering something. Do you and your significant other have an arrangement to give each other that one thing each really wanted for Christmas, but did not receive? I mean you literally have from December 26th until February 14th to compare shopping prices starting with the after Christmas shopping deals.

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Whether you are a specialty store, a big box store, a small mom-owned business or even a restaurant, if you do not offer online ordering, you are falling behind.

I have to say that I do 90% of my shopping, aside from groceries, online. First of all, it is much easier to shop online in my pajamas at midnight than it is to take three small children store-hopping during the day. Second of all, I can compare prices between multiple retailers, read reviews on products, look up available coupon codes, and check out in the time it takes me to go to one local store.

If you don't like to pay for shipping, stores like The Container Store, Walmart, and Best Buy all have pick-up at the store. When you order online and pick-up in store, you can still use online discounts. Otherwise I always look for promo codes for free shipping or a large enough promotional discount to cover the cost of shipping. For example, if I were shopping for crafts supplies, I would check online for Joann.com coupons and then proceed to checkout. They almost always have a free shipping offer. A.C. Moore just recently started online ordering, but alas Michael's is still behind the times.

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Take a look at who has joined forces with Tiny Prints! It's all your little one's favorite Nick Jr characters, including Dora and Diego, Blues Clues, Ni Hao Kai-Lan, The Wonderpets, and the Backyardigans just to name a few. Check out Tiny Prints for Nick Jr. party invitations and thank you cards, as well as personalized kids stationary, coordinating address labels, and gift tags.

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What is my favorite thing about the beginning of springtime? . . . Well, all the end-of-the-season winter clearance sales of course! This is when I buy most of my children's fall and winter clothes for the next year. I especially like snagging a great deal on outerwear. With three children, it sure adds up when you count all the outerwear, tops, bottoms, pajamas, shoes, and any other seasonal items they may need.

I rarely shop for my husband or myself since we don't really outgrow our clothes. That statement is true if you do not count the effects of both my pregnancies. Anyways, I just have to point out this really cute stretch twill jacket from Sears that caught my eye. This jacket is marked down from $48 to just $14.99! I love anything brown, but this particular jacket really speaks to me because it is a little edgy and just stands out. I'm not a big fan of blending in.

Guess where we are headed tomorrow! I still have a portion of a Sears gift card my children received for Christmas. I am going to look for some winter clothes for them for the Fall 2009/Winter 2010 season. At 75% to 80% off the original prices, how can you resist? Even my husband told me we should go take a gander and he is not a big fan of shopping. If I find anything extra impressive, I will make sure I blog about it. Hurry, the sale ends April 18th!

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Due to the number of pets we have in our home (some of them being elderly), we have had an ongoing problem with unpleasant odors for quite awhile now. This never use to be a problem because I use to be a candle and tart burning fanatic. In fact, I use to work in a candle store, so you can imagine how many candles I had at home. There was at least one candle for each room in the house I would say.

Since our 5yr old was born, I have stopped burning candles. I suppose I suddenly developed a fear of causing a fire. I think I have only lit a candle once or twice during the past five years and that was only during power outages. So now I want to re-examine my options as far as room fresheners for the house. I use to buy jelly jars from a local mall store that were little glass jars filled with scented gel that would evaporate into the air. Well, I had looked there during the past two holiday seasons for those jelly jars only to be disappointed that they have not brought them back into their line.

So now I have to do some thinking about what my other options are that do not involve a fire hazard. One thing I've thought of is a plug-in type air freshener, but I really do not have any unblocked outlets available that are up high. That is something I wouldn't want my toddlers to get their hands on. I have thought of scented oils and potpourri, but I'm concerned that our cats will get into it. There is also the option of battery-operated room scenters, but I would rather not have the extra expense of replacing batteries on top of the obvious cost of purchasing refills. While browsing for other options online, I came across reed diffusers on http://SabonNYC.com/. I wonder if I could get away with those? Does anyone use these or something similar who also has cats? I'd be interested to hear about your experience.

Also if anyone has any other suggestions for kid-friendly and pet friendly alternatives to candles and tart burners, feel free to share. I miss having my house smelling nice all the time!

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If you're a mom or a mom-to-be, you might want to check out this new site called Mama's Daily Deal. There you will find one great deal on a brand name item for either mommy or baby everyday. You can subscribe to their newsletter to easily keep up with what deals are to come. In addition, Mama's Daily Deal gives away one free package of Pampers diapers to one of their subscribers daily.

As an example, the deal they have on the site today is a stroller for $69 shipped that normally sells for $139. Most deals are at least 50% off the retail price before shipping and sales tax. You must choose carefully though because they do not take returns due to the nature of the business. So make sure the product you choose is the right one for you. If you do see something you want, do not wait to purchase because it is only available for one day or until it sells out, whichever comes first.

Thank you to MamasDailyDeal.com for sponsoring this post.

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Recently, I have been thinking ahead for when my husband and I will have the opportunity to sell our 2-bedroom townhouse and move to a larger single family home. The housing market is so terrible in Massachusetts right now, I am predicting we will have to do a lot more work to raise the perceived value of our home. This will definitely include installing hardwood floors to the second story plus remodeling our upstairs bathroom.

The bathroom is pretty hideous. The fixtures are goldtone, the bathtub and toilet are dark chocolate brown and the vanity and walls are linoleum. Yikes, right? I think my husband once jokingly referred to the style as "Egyptian chic." When shopping for bathroom vanities, I will be looking for something simple that will go with any one's taste. I do want the appearance of quality, but I definitely will not want to pay full price for something I am going to have to leave behind. Locally, quality bath furnishings cost quite a bit. You all know that I am an avid online shopper, but what would the freight cost on something like this? Well, I actually came across a free shipping promotion online for bathroom vanity sets, dining room sets, and bedroom furniture! On top of that, some of the bathroom vanities were on sale for half off.

I wonder if I could convince my husband to take advantage of the sale on bedroom furniture and dining sets too? It is unlikely that we will be able to vacate the house before we put it on the market. New furniture would definitely help the perceived value of our home. It would be a good investment because we can take it with us to enjoy in our new home.

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What do you give to a couple who seems to have everything? The only thing I can think of is a little peace of mind.

If you have never heard of C'Elle, it is a company who offers the service of harvesting stem cells from a women's menstrual blood. These stem cells are then processed and preserved to use for possible life-saving remedies in the future. These remedies may include ones to treat common conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke, osteoporosis, spinal cord injuries, Alzheimer's, and Parkinson's disease. The stem cells are not just effective in remedies for the donor, but rather they may help to save someone else who is genetically related to the donor, such as a child, a parent, or a sibling.

Now with such technology, why do you suppose that every person in society has not harvested their stem cells? Well, with the current state of the economy in the United States, it is difficult for many people to invest in the future. I know that is how I feel. I would love to have my stem cells preserved for my children's' sake, but is it worth it to spend the money on a condition we do not currently suffer from and, if we are lucky, never will? Am I better off spending the money on something else or putting it away for their college educations?

The best gifts I have ever received have been our three children. We had fertility problems and struggled for many years to become pregnant. My second pregnancy was high risk and I am just thankful that, although our twins were born 9.5 weeks early, they are doing fine overall. If someone gave me the gift of a C'elle Collection Kit, I would be so grateful because it would mean they are protecting the best gifts I have ever received. If I had the funds, I would certainly gift this unique technology to any of my relatives who have children.

I would like to know . . .

1) Is a C'elle Collection Kit something you would like to receive as a gift?
2) If you had the funds, who would you purchase a C'elle Collection Kit as a gift for someone you know?

To enter to win a free C'elle Collection Kit worth $699, all you need to do is leave a comment answering either of the questions posed above. You can answer both question, but you will need to leave a separate comment for each answer. Please remember to include your valid email address. This giveaway is held across many blogs and the drawing will be chosen randomly from all the comments received from any of the blogs posting about this contest. Here are the official contest rules.

This giveaway ends on December 31st, 2008.

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When it comes to personalized holiday gifts, you know I am all for them. Custom personalization can make almost any gift a meaningful one. When you think of a laser engraved gift, a pen is just classic, but what if you are looking for something for someone from Generation-X or younger?

Pexagon brings the perfect gifts for the younger generation . . . the take a notebook computer with me everywhere I go generation. I am referring to laser engraved personalized flash drives, thumb drives, and business card drives. If you start looking around, you will see flash drives hanging around people's necks, around their wrists, on their key rings, just about anywhere. You will see them on business people, on professors, on students, on administrators.

Until the end of 2008, Pexagon is offering 20% off the four great gift ideas pictured above. After this discount, the personalized pens start at only $1.59 each. This is a perfect gift if you need something for each person on your staff and the price is right. The personalized thumb drives start at $7.99 each. The business card flash drives and the wooden USB flash drives start at $15.99 each.

I am going to have to keep these personalized storage items in mind for future gifts. I am always stumped about what to get for a new college graduate or just someone who has everything. The thumb drives are priced just right for teachers' gifts or if you are looking for a thoughtful gift for a co-worker that is not too personal. If I had known about these earlier, I would have gotten one for a stocking stuffer for my husband. There's always next year though!

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I am not a last minute shopper. I think I am too much of a planner to let that happen. Even the thought of getting towards the last two weeks before Christmas without having all my gifts purchased and wrapped, whether it's my children's or the mail carrier's, could send me into a panic attack.

This year, my husband and I decided to only do stockings for each other and not exchange gifts. This is one way we are trying to tighten our belts. Even though we had made this agreement, I had been thinking about surprising my husband with something. There is a 32" HDTV at Kmart for $429.99 . I could tell a little white lie and say it is for the whole family. Well, I have a few days left to think about it.

If you are a last minute shopper at heart, then you could find all your last minute gifts from Kmart in one stop. They have 25,000 gifts in-store for under $25. If I was not already done with my shopping, here are some of the items I would pick for my own family . . .

-Halex 27" Table Top Soccer for $24.99 (for my oldest son)
-Dora & Boots Reversible Throw and Pillow Set for $14.99 (for my toddler daughter)
-Truck & Trailer Set with 17 Diecast Cars for $20.00 (also for my oldest son)
-My First Craftsman Deluxe Rolling Toolbox for $19.99 (for my toddler son)
-Norelco Mulit-Purpose Grooming Kit with Cordless Trimmer for $17.99 (for my dear husband)

Some other ideas for under $25 would be a Leapster game, if you know any lucky kid who is getting a Leapster2 for Christmas this year. Don't forget there are always sweaters, pajamas, jewelry, and school clothes for fashion-savvy teens and tweens. For those of you who are starting to panic, I hope this gives you some ideas to help cross some names off your shopping list. Good luck with your shopping!

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Tick tock! Tick tock! . . . That's the sound of time running out for you to finish your holiday shopping. Christmas Eve is just two weeks away. If you are thinking of shopping for your holiday gifts online, then you better get moving. You might just have to start scouring the ads for your local stores.

This week, Sears has some great gift ideas for men, but these items are really some things the whole family will enjoy having in the house. They are offering a 20" Sylvania LCD HDTV for one third off the regular price! It usually sells for $299, but the price for this sale has been reduced to $199. I know my husband would want 2 or 3 of these.

Another gift my husband would love to receive is the 7ft pool table that is advertised in this week's ad. It was regularly $399 and now for a limited time it is selling for $279.99 . It even comes with a free table tennis top for playing ping pong. If we ever actually finish cleaning out the basement, this would be a great investment. Not only will my husband enjoy it, I know my children will also for years to come, especially the table tennis.

Don't forget that many in-stock items are available to be ordered online and then picked up in-store. I have done this many times with toys, tools, and small appliances. It is a huge time saver. Speaking of toys, don't forget to check out the My First Kenmore and My First Craftsman lines of toys. My children would want each and every toy available from both collections.

The sale prices mentioned above are valid from 12/7/08 to 12/13/08.

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As a woman who recently turned 35, I have finally accepted the fact that my body is aging. I have always been someone who could never understand how women (and men) could go so far as to undergo surgery to improve their looks unless they were disfigured. Now that I'm halfway to 70, I am beginning to understand the need to regain some of my youth. This still does not mean I would elect to have plastic surgery or to have collagen injections.

Dermalastyl is the perfect solution for someone like me. It is a topical application that can actually take the place of or at least put off the need for procedures such as surgery and injections. The active ingredients in Dermalastyl are ones that actually help to heal wounds and promote collagen production.

Any one or all three of the Dermalastyl products (the Elastatropin, the Intensive Eye Syrum, and the Facial Scrub) would be a great gift for any woman in her 30's or older. These products are priced very reasonably compared to the other leading anti-aging remedies. So if you are out of ideas this year about what to get your mother, aunt, sister, or best friend, why not treat them to some Dermalastyl? Let's face it, almost every woman wants to look younger, but not every woman will spend money on products such as this no matter how much they actually deserve it.

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Anyone who knows me knows that I love red. I would wear these all year round myself, but if you are not into colors, these are definitely affordable enough to just pull out during the holidays, New Year's Eve, Valentine's Day, a special occasion like a wedding, or to pack with you when you go on vacation. In fact, you could find a pair of fun eyeglass frames for as low as $8 online plus shipping.

If you know anyone who has a purse to go with every outfit, then they would probably enjoy a few different pairs of eyeglasses in various styles. All out of ideas for gifts for your loved ones this year? These frames would make an inexpensive gift for someone and would also make a fun unexpected stocking stuffer. If you don't have their prescription, the lenses can be added later on.

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For this 4-day Nikon Black Friday Promo, you can purchase the Ultimate Hunter's Package for that special outdoorsman (or men) in your life at a substantial savings. For $299.95, you will receive the following . . .

• ProStaff 3-9x40 Riflescope with BDC Reticle
• ProStaff Laser Rangefinder
• Silent Technology Rangefinder Case
• Mastering a Long-range shot with BDC DVD
• $50 NikonProGear Gift Card

These items have a combined retail of $444.85 which means a savings of $144.90 for you. In this economy, you can take advantage of this offer and split these these items between multiple recipients. Each item would make a great gift for someone who is already a hunting enthusiast. This is a great way to stretch your holiday shopping budget even further.

This promotional offer ends on December 1st, 2008.

Thank you to NikonPromo.com for sponsoring this post.

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Thank you to Joolwe.com for sponsoring this post.

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This 1/4ct tw Diamond 5-Stone Journey Pendant and Earrings Set also has an additional 10% off through November 26th. This set has genuine diamonds set into 10K yellow gold. With the extra discount, you only pay $101.99 (plus any applicable sales tax) for the whole set. Now I usually prefer white gold, but with prices like these, I can certainly make an exception.

Don't forget to check the Kmart website throughout December because there will be some surprise savings made available to you. To add a little bit of fun to your shopping, you will need to look for Christmas ornaments with secret coupon codes hidden throughout the site.

I hope this short list helps get you a little bit closer to being done with your holiday shopping.

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When I worked as a furniture consultant, we kept an instant camera on hand in the store. The reason for that was we use to assist some customers in choosing gifts, such as a recliner or dining room set. Sometimes these gifts could not be delivered in time for the occasion, so we would take a photo of either the item alone or the item with the person purchasing the gift. Then the customer would put the photo in a box and wrap it up all pretty to present to their special someone. It was the perfect way to give a delayed gift.

I was thinking about this method of presenting a gift because of the current state of our economy. Instead of disappointing your children who wanted that Nintendo Wii more than anything else in the whole world, a delayed gift might be the solution. Kmart Layaway for the Holidays is a great program. Until December 12th, you can put most items on layaway and have up to 8 weeks to pay it off. If you need an extra pay cycle or two to pay for a gift, but want to reserve it so it does not sell out, just follow these four easy steps . . .

1) Choose which item or items you would like to put on layaway. There are very specific items that are not allowed, such as alcohol and periodicals.

2) When you take your items to the Layaway Counter, you will be required to pay $15 or 10% of your purchase (whichever amount is higher). This $15 is non-refundable if you cancel the layaway, default on the layaway, or return merchandise that was on layaway.

3) Every two weeks, you must make a payment equalling a minimum of 25% of the original balance. If you are late with your payment, the merchandise will be returned to the sales floor after a 7-day grace period.

4) Take your item(s) home when you make your last payment.

Just think . . . the next best thing to opening the ultimate gift on Christmas morning is the anticipation of getting that gift in the near future.

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Sears Black Friday Sale allows you to beat the crowd and shop for amazing deals early on. As I've mentioned before, I am an early shopper. If I make it to Thanksgiving and I haven't finished 99% of my Christmas shopping yet . . . I panic! Now you can shop before Black Friday without feeling like you did not get the best prices on your big ticket items.

If you failed to find the sought after Nintendo Wii last year around this time, you can pick it up at Sears this year for only $249.99. Everyone knows the price was just lowered by the manufacturer, so I wouldn't wait if this item is on your shopping list. If your loved one has been extra good this year, you can even add in the Guitar Hero World Tour Guitar Bundle for $99.99 .

Now that you have the kiddos taken care of, you can treat your favorite adult (yes, it can be you) to a new blu-ray disc player. Are you one of those people who waits until the novelty has worn off for a new electronics item before you'll buy it? Well, I am. I can wait a year or two if that means I can save a few hundred dollars. You can pick up a Sharp AQUOS blu-ray Disc player for only $179.99 at Sears. That's a $120 savings off retail plus I could not find a lower price when I performed an online search.

All the great items in the Sears Black Friday Sale are only available while quantities last. I hope other retailers will follow Sears' lead in allowing consumers to shop early without worrying about overpaying.

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It looks like Kmart is the place to shop this holiday. They have made shopping so easy for consumers by allowing you to browse gifts by price range on their website. There are over 25,000 gifts available for under $25 . . . some even under $20, $15, and $10. Of course there is something for everyone on your list, but I am going to focus on gifts for men. That is the one thing I have heard repeatedly on the blogosphere . . . how it is so much more difficult to buy for a man.

First of all, are you aware that Kmart sells Craftsman tools? You could snag one of the men on your list a Craftsman cordless screwdriver for under $25 or a Craftsman toolbox for under $15. You could even fill that toolbox with an array of Craftsman tools and still stay within your budget.

Here are some other great gift ideas for men. Kmart carries a Philips Norelco Grooming Kit with a Cordless Rechargeable Trimmer for only $18.99 . How can you beat that? Would you be able to purchase just the trimmer for that price elsewhere? A classic gift for men would be a Leatherman Multi-Tool that is available for only $19.99 . With brands like Craftsman, Norelco, and Leatherman, you know you are getting high quality for an exceptional price.

Keep in mind that you can sign up to receive email updates for in-store and online specials. Kmart is currently offering two $5 coupons to anyone who signs up for their mailing list. Who couldn't use an extra $10 this holiday?

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I usually start my Christmas shopping at the beginning of the year. I make a list of the perfect gift (that I can afford) for each person I want to buy for. This gives me a lot of time to find the perfect gift for an exceptional price. If I can't think of a particular item for some people, I leave it blank until I do or until I happen to see something that would suit them.


I do not have a strict budget (which I actually should) about how much to spend overall or for each person. There is a mental limit. For instance, I could find something wonderful and think it is a great price for my sister's gift, but it is too much to spend on my child's teacher. I also have a general range for gifts for each of our children.

This year we sort of stuck to our budget, but not really. ;P We spent a lot more on our oldest son than we should have because his Santa gift is something all three children will enjoy. We did cut back a little on each of the other Santa's gifts and the gifts from my husband and myself to help make up for it.

If you'd like to join in on the blog party, it's not too late! There's still plenty of more fun to be had.

Thank you to Appledonia, Hippos Toes and My Bag for sponsoring the party today!

Note: I will be posting some of my party posts on this blog and some on my other blog. I will be sure to post a link here if the post of the day is on 3 Garnets & 2 Sapphires. Don't forget to check out my giveaways too!

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