There’s a $10 off $10 coupon available through Office Max (must be a WorkLife Rewards member) that you can use to get a 16×20″ print for free.  Then follow this giant picture tutorial (all you need to purchase is foam board and glue) and you’ve got a cheap homemade piece of art for any room in your home.

Office Depot $10 off $10 – Use it To Make An Awesome 16×20 Print is a post from: Mrs. Moneysaver

I think I’ve mentioned it before, but I’ll say it again: I love giving (and receiving) homemade gifts!  Not just because they’re inexpensive, but they are usually just a lot more fun!  I’ve rounded up some really cute homemade Christmas gift ideas that are way cheap and super cute:

Tin Can Treats from Our Best Bites.  Originally made for a Mother’s Day gift, they’ve tweaked it for Christmas.

Moms By Heart shows us how to get items for a gift basket for less than a $1 using coupons!

Thrifty and Thriving shows us how to make a homemade marshmallow shooter kit (I love it!)

Did you know that K-Mart has coupons for marshmallows?

Cheap and Fun Homemade Gift Ideas is a post from: Mrs. Moneysaver

I am a big fan of giving (and receiving!) homemade Christmas gifts.  Not only does it save you money, there’s usually a lot more thought going into it.  And it’s the thought that counts, right?  Katie at Good Life Style shows us how to make a homemade sugar scrub and even offers free printable gift labels to go along with the gift!

Homemade Christmas Gift With Free Printable Gift Labels is a post from: Mrs. Moneysaver

Here’s my printable coupon roundup for the day:

$1/1 Wisk (Facebook)

$1/1 Stonyfield Milk or Half & Half

$1.50/1 Wholly Product

$.50/1 Nestle Toll House Dark Chocolate Morsels

$.50/1 CARNATION® Evaporated Milk

$1/1 Hershey’s Chocolate

$1/1 Pedigree Dog Food 8.8 lbs or larger

This post may contain an affiliate link. See my disclosure policy for more details.

Printable Coupons: Hershey’s Chocolate, Wisk, Nestle, Pedigree, Wholly, Stonyfield Milk is a post from: Mrs. Moneysaver

SWAGG is a free mobile app (download here) that lets you shop smarter using your mobile phone. Buy, send or swap SWAGG GIFTS and organize your old school plastic gift cards.

For every download of the app between now and Dec. 31, 2010, SWAGG will donate $1 to Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C) , up to $125,000.

Clever Girls Collective and SWAGG are sending a pair of movie fans to the Sundance Film Festival! Download the SWAGG app and then visit the Ultimate SWAGG Getaway Sweepstakes site to enter to win a trip for two to the Sundance Film Festival. Entry deadline is January 3, 2011, 11:59pm, PST.

The girls at Clever Girls Collective asked that I would share a post about the best gift I ever gave.  As I reflect on Christmases past I get excited just thinking about gifts that I have given that made my heart swell as I watched the excitement and anticipation in the receiver’s eyes. I realized that, like all of us, as I grew older I found much more joy in giving than receiving.  What struck me is that I can remember many more details about gifts that I have given than ones I have received.  To me, this is part of the true spirit of Christmas and this thought helped me choose the best gift I ever gave.

A couple of years ago my husband and I started a holiday tradition that is beginning to be my very favorite.  My husband and I, along with our six kids, will choose five or six families in our community that we think would like a visit from Santa.  On a night a couple of weeks before Christmas we’ll take a plate of goodies to each household, place the goodies on the doorstep, ring the doorbell and run!  My kids take turns being Santa, and I love seeing the joy on their face as they return to the car, breathless.

There are several reasons I love this gift. One, the simplicity of it shows that the smallest gifts can bring the biggest smiles.  Another is that my kids are learning gifts don’t have to cost much money (if any at all) to make someone happy.  It is true, the thought does count.  Showing someone you are thinking about them with a simple gesture or gift speaks volumes, especially when it is unexpected.

The gift I’m referring to is not the plate of cookies on the doorstep.  What I’m referring to is the gift of giving that I’m hoping my children will receive as enthusiastically as they do the ones  wrapped under the tree.  I’m hoping that they’ll remember this Christmas tradition fondly, and just as I have, realize that it really is better to give than receive.

It is in this spirit that I’m also honored to annouce that SWAGG has partnered with non-profit Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C). For every download of the app between now and Dec. 31, 2010, SWAGG will donate $1 to SU2C up to $125,000. Awesome, right?! /

You can find more info about the Ultimate SWAGG Getaway Sweepstakes here.

Clever Girls Collective and SWAGG are sending a lucky pair of movie fans to the Sundance Film Festival! The sweepstakes is offered exclusively through the Clever 1000, and it has a pretty kick butt prize, including:

• 2 night/3 day stay at Yarrow Hotel in Park City Utah (Jan 21 – Jan 23, 2011)
• Ground transportation to and from hotel to airport in Park City, Utah
• Dinner for two at Tao Lounge, including 2 nightclub passes
• All access to The House of SWAGG Gifting Suite
• 2 tickets to a movie premiere on Saturday, January 22nd — movie tbd
• $4,000 value

Learn more about the coolest new app that revolutionizes the whole shopping, gifting, and gift card-organizing experience and Download the SWAGG app to your iPhone or Droid. I was selected for this sponsorship by Clever Girls Collective, which endorses Blog With Integrity.

The Best Gift I Ever Gave is a post from: Mrs. Moneysaver

As I begin to think about teachers gifts, friend gifts and Secret Santa gifts, I’m starting to wonder if my holiday budget is going to stretch enough to cover it all.  I’ve decided it’s time to get creative about gift-giving and put a little more thought into the gifts and a little less money.  Here are some ideas I’ve come up with:

You can still get a free canvas plus shipping through Canvas People. This is definitely at the top of my gift giving list.  The S&H is $14.95, but it’s still a cheap gift that grandparents especially are sure to love.

A free photo calendar is also a great gift, and you can still get a free calendar (or three for the price of one) through Vistaprint.

I’ve given love coupons before, but I’ve made my own.  Now I can vist withluv.com and print from there.  They have love coupons such as:

• Warm Hug
• Candlelit Restaurant Dinner
• Get Out of the Doghouse
• Luxurious Bubble Bath
• Park Afternoon

…. and more!

My kids like to get their friends gifts, and having six kids-that can get expensive!  My older kids usually buy their own, but my two younger daughters still need to “borrow” from me.  Here’s some fun ideas that I suggested this year.

Buy a box of chocolate covered raisins, Milk Duds, Whoppers at the dollar store.  Wrap and include a copy of the Reindeer Poop poem.

Get some refrigerated cookie dough, (there’s a coupon here) wrap and include with the card “Thought you might like some dough for Christmas”.

Wrap a box of Jr. Mints and include in the card: “We were “Mint” to be friends.

Of, course, the best gifts are the ones that are homemade.  I’ve always thought it would be nice to make a friend a shopping cart cover.  Or, I could make some body scrubs and lotions for my friends and teacher’s gifts as well.  Even a jar of homemade applesauce wrapped with a nice ribbon would be nice, or brownies in a jar.

A few more cute gift ideas:

What about you-do you have any cheap Christmas gift ideas?

This post may contain an affiliate link. See my disclosure policy for more details.

Love Coupons and Other Cheap Christmas Gift Ideas is a post from: Mrs. Moneysaver

Included in this eBook is a collection of the best kids Christmas crafts, including:

• Festive Ice Skate Ornaments
• Tiered Christmas Tree Ornament
• Sparkle Name Stockings
• Easy Ribbon Wreath

There’s something for every age and every style. Get into the Christmas spirit with your kids!

This post may contain an affiliate link. See my disclosure policy for more details.

Free Download: Santa’s Christmas Crafts for Kids is a post from: Mrs. Moneysaver

I’ll have to admit, I’m at a loss this year.  I really don’t know what to get my kids for Christmas.  Sure, I have a couple of ideas for my two youngest, but my teenagers….not so much.  I’ve decided to get my 8-year-old a Dora Backpack and my youngest son is getting cowboy boots.  And I might get them both a personalized letter from Santa. But, the more I shop and think and wonder, the more I am at a loss as to what to get my four oldest.

I’ve gotten to the point to where I’m wondering: Is this pathetic?  Do my kids really have everything they want?  How can I claim to be frugal if my kids aren’t lacking?

They do have iPods that they have received as gifts from years past, isn’t there any other modern gadget they would love to have?

Or, is this a good thing?  Have they learned that Christmas really isn’t about “what I want”?  Do they really have the true spirit of Christmas-the one that reminds us of love, peace and joy as we celebrate our Savior’s birth.  The one that, all too often, gets hidden by hype this time of year. Would I be kidding myself to think that?

Or, have they learned that since there really isn’t a Santa, they can’t ask for much?

What do you think?

I want to share something… is a post from: Mrs. Moneysaver

These snowglobes would be the neatest addition to your Christmas decor.  The snowman globe is my favorite-but I don’t have to choose because this comes as a set!  I can’t believe it’s only $30!  I’m thinking about buying the set, keeping the snowman globe and giving the other two as gifts-I think they would make a great teacher’s gift!  Hurry-you don’t want to miss out on this deal that ends today!  Click here to get your snow globe set.

This post may contain an affiliate link. See my disclosure policy for more details.

Towle Set of 3 Silver Plated Musical Snow globes- a $135.00 value Now $30.00 is a post from: Mrs. Moneysaver

I just came across the neatest site and had to share!  You can print a free letter from Santa for your kids this Christmas.  There are five different letters to choose from, along with five different designs.  It’s as easy as 1, 2, 3:

1. Visit Free Letters from Santa and choose a letter type and design
2. Fill out the necessary information to personalize your letter
3. After you finish step two, you will be taken to a page where you can download your letter.  It will be in .pdf format. Download, print and you’re set!

I have six kids, but only two still believe in Santa.  I’m going to print their letters and stick them in an envelope and address it to them.  I might even print a fancy return address label from the North Pole.  Then I’m going to stick it in with the mail that I get in a few days and surprise my kiddos with a letter from Santa.  I know it will make their day!  Click Here to print your free letter from Santa.

Free Letter from Santa is a post from: Mrs. Moneysaver

Kohl’s is having a great sale on select items, including holiday candles and decorative accents.  PLUS, it’s only $.99 standard shipping for every item, including clearance!

Don’t wait-$.99 shipping only lasts for three days and the decorative accents sale ends on Thursday.  Click Here to take advantage of this great deal.

This post may contain an affiliate link. See my disclosure policy for more details.

Kohls: 50% off Holiday Candles and Decorative Accents is a post from: Mrs. Moneysaver

We just got about two feet of snow this weekend.  While I am so relieved I got my Christmas shopping done before the storm (Southerns by and large can’t drive in the snow, me included!), I know many around here weren’t so forunate.  So many still have a whole lot of shopping left to do, and can’t get out of their homes to do it.

Snow or no snow, maybe you still have some shopping to do too.  And thankfully, it’s not too late to do it on Amazon and get it in time for Christmas.  As long as you order by Tuesday at 8 pm Pacific time (but does vary a bit by item), Amazon is saying you’ll receive your order in time for Christmas with their 2-day shipping. (See shipping deadlines here.) And right now, when you sign up for a free month-long trial to Amazon Prime (a flat-rate shipping subscription) and order by the deadling, you can get your packages ship to you by Christmas Eve for free.  Just make sure you cancel your Prime subscription before the month’s end, or else you’ll get charged.

Amazon also has some great last minute deals available.  If you’re looking for toys, check out their Lightning Deals here, as well as their other toy sales here.  For other gift deals, you can check out the Gold Box deals.

I know I’ve been talking about Amazon so much, but we did over half of our Christmas shopping on Amazon this year.  We found they had some really great prices this year!

Not Too Late: Amazon Deals With Free Shipping For Christmas is a post from: Mrs. Moneysaver

I have been busy in the kitchen the past two weeks as I’ve been baking cookies for the holidays.  No, we don’t need the 17 dozen cookies I’ve made so far.  But I just love baking this time of year, trying new recipes and perfecting old ones, and anyway, I’m sure I’ll find a good use for those cookies over the next week or so.

As I’ve been baking the past couple of weeks, my husband just keeps asking for the same cookies- Very Merry Chocolate Peppermint Cookies.  I only make them at Christmas-time, since they’re a bit too holiday-ish for the rest of the year, in my opinion.  But they are delicious, so if you are still looking for a yummy batch of cookies to make this holiday season, these might just be a great bake.

Ingredients
1 cup white sugar
8 oz cream cheese, softened
3/4 cup butter, softened
2 and 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
2 1/2 cups flour
4 squares Baker’s semi-sweet baking chocolate, melted  (There are directions on the box for melting.  You have to be very careful not to over-heat the chocolate, or else your cookies will taste bitter.)
1 cup white chocolate morsels
2 peppermint candy canes, crushed

Secret Ingredient-  If you have it on-hand, you could include a splash of liquid peppermint coffee creamer too.  It’s not necessary, but I’ve found it gives a little extra peppermint taste to the cookies and makes them just a bit more moist.

Directions
1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

2.  In a large bowl, cream together cream cheese, butter, sugar, and vanilla until mixed well.  I’ve found using an electric mixer gets the ingredients to a nice smoothness better than mixing by hand.

3.  Add flour and baking soda, and stir until well blended.

4.  Stir in the melted Baker’s chocolate, until the chocolate is spread throughout the dough and the color is consistent throughout.

5.  Divide dough into 50 pieces, and rolls each piece into a round ball.  Place on baking sheets, two inches apart, and bake for 9-11 minutes.

6. After baking, cool on baking for 3 minutes, then cool completely on wax paper or wire rack.

7.  When the cookies are cooled, melt the white chocolate morsels.  You can either melt these on low-heat over the stove or in 15-second-and-then-stir increments in the microwave.

8.  When melted, pour the liquid chocolate into a sandwich bag and seal.  Snip the tip of a bottom corner off the bag.  Then drizzle the chocolate over the cookies.

9.  Before the chocolate hardens, sprinkle the crushed candy cane pieces over the melted chocolate.

While these cookies are yummy when first baked, we’ve found they actually taste the best 2-3 days after baking.  I haven’t a clue why, but that’s just been our observation after lots of testing.  :)

Enjoy!

Very Merry Chocolate Peppermint Cookies is a post from: Mrs. Moneysaver

(Photo credit:  Count Rushmore)

My family, along with nearly 90 million other Americans, will be traveling quite soon for Christmas.  With a 500 mile drive (and a border crossing!) each way, I’m predicting the trip to and from our destination will be slightly miserable with two young children in tow.

Other than hours of “I want out of my car seat” requests and frequent stops for baby feedings and potty breaks, the cost of travel can be somewhat unpleasant as well.  Between gas, food, and unexpected problems along the way, the costs can add up quickly.  But there are some ways to save with a little advance planning.

1.  Pack snacks and meals. This is the easiest of all the tips to throw together even at the last minute, but perhaps one of the biggest money savers.  You know all of those convenience foods you’ve been getting on the cheap with coupons?  Save them up for your car trip snacks, and make sure you don’t forget them at home!  And while we do stop for some meals on our drives, I typically pack breakfast since we leave before the sun comes up.  I’ve found this is the easiest meal to pack, and saves us $8-$10.  Idea:  fruit and granola bars.  And don’t forget to pack drinks too.  When we travel, I always bring bottles of water that we drink along the way instead of stopping for drinks.  At about $2.99 (on sale) for a 24-pack of water, it’s much cheaper than stopping at 7-Elevens.

2.  Plan your meal stops. Okay, so maybe this is where my Type-A personality colors really start to show, but if you stop for meals along your drive, you can save money by even loosely planning where you’ll eat.  Just knowing what chain restaurants are common in what regions can help you track down printable coupons for those places before you leave.  Just do a Google search for the restaurant name and coupons.  For example, I know that Subways are pretty common all over the U.S., and I’m certain we’ll be able to find a Subway somewhere near Pittsburg (for example) for lunch.  Since I know that, I’ll make sure I find a Subway coupon before our trip to take along.  You could also look in Google maps and decide that, based on your departure time, you could stop in such-and-such area for lunch.  Using Valpak and Redplum, you can find coupons for that area based on zip code.  As long as you have a general idea of where you’ll stop for meals, you can search and print those coupons.  Just remember to stick the coupons in your purse before you take off!

3.  Keep Your Tires Properly Inflated. President Obama caught some flack for his tire pressure comment during his campaign, and while I’m pretty certain this tip won’t solve a national energy crisis, it will help save some money on fuel.  Having your tires properly inflated can improve your gas mileage by 3 to 4%.  While that may not seem like a lot, if you’re driving a long distance (like us) or have a car with not-so-hot gas mileage (like us as well), this savings could add up.

4.  Take care of car maintenance before you travel. Unexpected car problems can cost big time on trips when you’re unfamiliar with mechanics, service stations, and tow companies.  While not all car problems can be avoided by staying on top of routine maintenance, this is surely a precautionary step that has the potential to save.  For example, on a car trip last year, we sudenly needed coolant for our car.  Had we checked the fluid levels before we left, we could have bought the coolant at the reasonable price we usually pay instead of twice as much at an over-priced station.  So if you’re due for an oil change or fluid fill-up, save yourself some potential problems by taking care of it before you leave.

5.  Drive at night. This might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but if you can manage it, it can result in savings.  First, you could very well save on gas by driving at night, since traveling at night often means less backups and slow-downs due to traffic and accidents.  Being caught up in stand-still traffic during some city’s rush-hour can cost you gas (and sanity!)  And if you drive while everyone sleeps, you can potentially save on meal stops too.  We’re considering this for our upcoming trip.  If we drive through the night, we would only be eating breakfast on the road (and a packed breakfast at that!) and then mooch lunch from family when we arrive :) , instead of the breakfast, lunch, and dinner we would need if driving throughout the day.

Car trips don’t have to cost an arm and a leg!  Just like in other areas of frugality, a little planning can add up to big savings.

If you’ve found ways to save on car travel, I would love to hear your tips!

5 Ways To Save On Holiday Car Travel is a post from: Mrs. Moneysaver

Since I told you guys earlier today that I am on the hunt for a nativity set deal, I thought I would pass this Veggie Tales nativity sale along to you.  It’s not quite what I had in mind, but I’m still considering it, since I know my daughter would enjoy it more than a traditional nativity set right now.

Family Christian Store has the Veggie Tales Nativity set on sale (50% off) for $9.99.  Then use the code 1268644 to get an extra 25% off.  Plus they’re offering 99 cents shipping.  Total:  $8.48, including shipping.  Just search “Veggie Tale Nativity” in the top left hand search, if you can’t find it on the kids’ page.

Thanks, Alyssa!

Veggie Tales Nativity: $8.48, Including Shipping *Dead Deal* is a post from: Mrs. Moneysaver

Tuesday and Wednesday only, DaySpring is offering 50 to 75% off all their Christmas items, including nativities, jewelry, and decorations.  My family doesn’t have a nativity scene, so I am hoping to pick one up on the cheap!  I’ll let you know what I find.  I’m hoping to score this one for less than $15, but we’ll see:

If you order by the 16th and spend $50 or more, you can have your order by Christmas Eve with free shipping.

DaySpring: 50-75% Off Christmas Items is a post from: Mrs. Moneysaver

Canvas People is currently offering free 8 x 10 canvas prints.  You just have to pay shipping which is about $15.  Canvas prints are usually pretty pricey, so even with shipping this is a great deal.  If you decide you would like a bigger canvas print than 8 x 10, you can get $55 off your order instead.  Here are the prices after the $55 deduction:

8 x 10- FREE
11 x 11- $8.99
11 x 14- $13.99
16 x 16- $23.99
16 x 20- $33.99
18 x 24- $43.99

Thanks, Mama Cheaps!

Gift Idea: Free Canvas Print From Canvas People is a post from: Mrs. Moneysaver

Whew, we’ve finally reached the end of our 2009 holiday gift guide!  I hope the budget-friendly ideas have been helpful.

This last edition is focused on gifts for babies and their parents.  As a mom to a toddler and baby, I like to think I know a thing or two about this product sector.  To change things up a little, you’ll learn a bit about and have a chance to see the products in the video below.  Under the video, you’ll find website, pricing, and purchasing information.

1.  Mrs. Smith’s Diaper Bags This diaper bag retails from $40 to $70 and is the quite the organizational tool!  You can buy the bag on Amazon, as well as other online retailers.

2.  Sprout Shell-  This 4-in-1 product retails for $40-$48, much cheaper than buying each individual product this converts to separately.

3.   Temple Touch Thermometer Using Rapid Accurate Temperate Establishment technology, this thermometer quickly takes a child’s temperature on the temple.  It’s available at Walgreens for $29.99.

4.  Stork Tunes This CD, which benefits the March of Dimes, is a compilation of songs about motherhood from artists like Celine Dion and Norah Jones.  Stork Tunes is priced at $13.95 on Amazon and StorkTunes.com

The products reviewed above were provided to me by the companies.  The opinions shared within the review are mine and were not provided by the companies.

Holiday Gift Guide- Babies and Their Parents is a post from: Mrs. Moneysaver

iTunes has a free 20-song holiday sampler available for download here.  It includes songs from Lady Antebellum, Rascall Flatts, Weezer, Aretha Franklin, Amy Grant, Manheim Steamrollers, and others.  I’m particularly excited about the Amy Grant song… there’s just something about her Christmas music that I love…

iTunes: A Little Free Holiday Cheer is a post from: Mrs. Moneysaver

As I’ve shared before, we keep our kids’ Christmas gift budgets to a minimum.  So we try to make what we do spend really count.  Hopefully the following gift ideas will help you as you Christmas shop this week.

1.  K’NEX I love my daughter to receive gifts that encourage open-ended fun and creativity, and K’NEX is one of those kind of toys.  K’NEX is a line of construction sets that has all sorts of bars, bricks, and connectors, allowing kids to build whatever they can dream up.  Now K’NEX has come out with a 400 piece value tub for kids ages 7 and up.  With 400 pieces, there’s a lot of big playing that can be done!  It’s priced at about $21, and can be found at Target, Walmart, and Toys R Us stores, as well as Amazon (where it’s currently less than $18!).

2.  Heely’s I know some kids that have Heely’s and just love them.  Basically, they’re a combination of a shoe and a skate.  You can use them as sneakers, but then a wheel can flip out on the heel of each, allowing kids to skate around too.  I have known about Heely’s for years, but until recently I had no idea they came in just loads of styles and colors.  I received a fun pair that looks like old-school Converse, but Heely’s are also available in styles that look like skate and athletic shoes.  Priced from about $30 to $60, these are great because they can double as a shoe and toy gift.  You can pick up Heely’s at Finish Line stores, as well as on Zappos, Heelys.com, and Amazon.

3.  Phd Pocket Disc The Phd Pocket Disc is a soft Frisbee-like disc that can be used to play many games, but is made of crocheted cloth that won’t break windows or dent walls.  Sounds like a parent’s favorite kind of toy, right?   You’re probably wondering why “Phd” is part of the toy’s name though right?  Good question.  One of the companies’ founders explains it stands for , “Perfectly Harmless Device that Prevents Home Destruction while Promoting Hand Dexterity. Overall, it’s a Pretty Hip Disc.”  While the pocket disc can provide loads of fun, it’s also fair trade, meaning the Central American women who craft the Pocket Discs are paid fair wages and work in good conditions.  The classic Pocket Disc is available for $9.99, while the heavier sport edition is $14.99.  Both are available for purchase from PocketDisc.com and at retailers nationwide.

4. WheeGO This is one of those games that’s a learning tool, but your kids will just think they’re having a good time.  WheeGO is a treasure hunting game for kids ages 4-8 that is also something similar to hide-n-go-seek.  Game clues lead children to different locations and further clues, and finally to an ending (included) treasure.  Throughout the game, kids are challenged to different physical activities, brainteasers, and rhyming games, helping to develop their thinking skills and get them moving.  And just this year, Creative Child Magazine gave WheeGO a Preferred Choice Award.  WheeGo can be purchased from the company’s website for about $10, or some retail locations in a few states.

The products reviewed above were provided to me by the companies.  The opinions shared within the review are mine and were not provided by the companies.

Holiday Gift Guide: Kids, Part 2 is a post from: Mrs. Moneysaver

While we’re nearing the end of the 2009 holiday gift guide, I still have some neat and budget-friendly ideas to share with you.  Today’s gift ideas focus on gifts for couples.  While of course it’s fun to receive a gift meant just for me, there’s something special about receiving a present my husband and I can enjoy together.

1.  Destination Dinners Before Ryan and I had kids, we liked to cook dinners together.  We stuck to pretty basic menus though.  But Destination Dinners has a fun idea to spice things up a bit in the kitchen.  These dinner kits provide all the hard to find spices, sauces, and dried ingredients for authentic international meals, along with cooking instructions, table setting ideas, destination trivia, and a grocery shopping list.  It makes branching out in the kitchen much easier and a fun experience.  We received the Seoul, Korea kit, which only required 5 fresh ingredients in addition the things provided and came in a fun, red suitcase box.  What a fun idea! Each Destination Dinner is priced between $25 and $30 and serves 4 to 10 people, making the kits perfect for a date night in or a dinner party.

2.  Table for Two In keeping with the cooking idea, Table for Two is a cookbook for couples.  Before kids came along, one of our biggest dinner struggles was the amount of food most recipes make.  It seemed most recipes serve many more than two people, so we were often left with absurd amounts of leftovers.  Table for Two, by Warren Caterson, provides over 235 recipes that are usually quick to make and leave you with minimal leftovers.  Plus, I love how well he explains the cooking directions!  I’m not amazing in the kitchen, but I definitely find his recipes to be easy to understand.  You can purchase Table for Two at local bookstores and on Amazon (priced at less than $12 right now!), or an autographed copy for $16.95 (free shipping!) here.

3.  The Gift Card Mall Come on, admit it.  You like receiving gift cards.  You can do what you want with a gift card, and sometimes even get more mileage from it than a traditional gift.  Ryan and I love receiving gift cards we can use as a couple, perhaps for a fun date.  One of my personal favorites?  Restaurant gift cards.  With a gift card, Ryan and I can go for a nice dinner out without thinking about the bill. What a treat!  The Gift Card Mall recently sent Ryan and I a card to Red Robin.  I am looking forward to using it for a fun burgers-and-fries kinda’ night out soon.  And really, gift cards are so convenient to give as the gift-giver too.  The Gift Card Mall has made gift card giving easy by providing gift card centers in many retailers like Safeway, as well as online.  And they offer cards to over 350 restaurants and retailers, giving you plenty of options.

The products reviewed above were provided to me by the companies.  The opinions shared within the review are mine and were not provided by the companies.

Holiday Gift Guide: Couples Gifts is a post from: Mrs. Moneysaver

I have several neat and budget-friendly gift ideas to share with you for moms, grandmas, sisters, friends, and all the other women in our lives this holiday season.  I hope these ideas, along with the others found in the gift guide, are helping you as you Christmas shop.

1. Spring Los Angeles Designer Lunch Totes In the warmer months, I love to take my daughter to the park with a packed lunch.  But, admittedly, I like to be stylish about it. I had seen these lunch totes featured on another blog several months ago, and so I was pretty excited to try one out myself.  When it arrived, the tote was just what I thought it would be- functional and cute!  Packing lunches can be a big money saver, whether its for a work lunch break or a quick meal between errands.  These totes would be nice for someone who needs a little extra encouragement to take this money-saving step, or for a women who already packs lunch but wants to do it in style!  Spring Los Angeles Designer Lunch Totes are available on the company website and, for a limited time, all the totes are priced at just less than $20, with only a $1 shipping fee.  You can also buy the totes on Amazon.

2.  lia sophia I’ve heard some friends of mine talk up lia sophia for some time, but having never attended a lia sophia party, I had no idea what the company was all about until I recently received a sample to consider for this gift guide.  What I found was that lia sophia provides nice, stylish jewelry for reasonable prices through a network of independent sales women who host parties around the country. (I love supporting fellow mom business owners!)  While the jewelry starts at just $14, over 45% of the items included in the current lia sophia are priced under $35, making the pieces pretty budget-friendly.  But what I really love about lia sophia is that the company offers a lifetime replacement guarantee, something I’ve never heard of from another jewelry company.  You can check out the current lia sophia catalog online, and if you decide to purchase, search for a local seller.

3.  Clear2Go I drink a lot of bottled water but worry about the impact of that habit on both my budget and the environment.  Clear2Go solves both of those dilemmas.  This reusable water has a replaceable filter built right into the bottle, filtering out 99% of microbial cysts found in typical tap water.  The bottle, which includes a filter, is priced at $15.99, and filters up to 100 gallons of water (or about 757 plastic water bottles).  Replacement filters are sold in two-packs for about $13.  Seeing as I usually get a 24-packs of water bottles on sale for $2.99, I would usually spend over $94 on 757 bottles of water.  The price of Clear2Go, combined with tap water, is much cheaper, plus I’m not filling up the landfills with bottles.  You can buy Clear2Go from Walmart, Whole Foods, Sports Authority, and clear2go.com.

4.  kigo footwear These shoes, available in two styles, are made from flexible eco-friendly materials (such as recyled plastic water jugs!), and are incredibly lightweight.  When my package of kigo shoes arrived in the mail, I couldn’t believe a pair of shoes was in the box because of how light the package was!  Because they are so light and flexible, kigos give you a feeling like you’re walking barefoot, which I’ve heard lots of positive things about recently.  Plus, they are portable, with each shoe having a little hook that allows you to fold the shoes up to fit in a purse even!  (What a great idea for someone who walks or rides a bike to work but needs to wear dressy shoes while on the clock!)  While kigo footwear is available at a handful of retailers in Georgia, Oregon, and West Virginia currently, you can also purchase the shoes online.  In fact, the kigo line is priced at $49.99 online right now.  But the company has provided a special promo code giftguide20 for Mrs. Moneysaver readers, offering 20% off.  (Code expires 12/13/09) One helpful tip when ordering-  while the shoes by design are supposed to fit snugly and do stretch out a bit, they do run a little small.  Make sure you check out the sizing information on the product pages!

5.  Caboodles’ In My Case I had an original Caboodle as a girl. You remember them, don’t you?   Back then, I kept scrunchies and lip gloss in it, along with some clip-on earrings.  So when I recently received the new In My Case Caboodle, it was a fun reminder of something I loved as a kid, but have a greater use for now.  The In My Case Caboodle is good for more than nostalgia;  this makeup organizer has two trays, two dividers, side storage panels, and a mirror, providing plenty of needed organization.  You can pick up the In My Case Caboodle (along with other products from company) at Target and Ulta stores for $19.99 to $26.99.

6.  Mrs. Meyers Clean Day Holiday Hand Care Set Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day line recently launched a festive, warm scent for the 2009 holiday season- Iowa Pine.  I was fortunate enough to receive the hand care set, containing both hand soap and lotion, in this scent.  With hints of clove and cedar, it smells just like our Christmas tree, which I’m totally loving this time of year.  Plus, the Mrs. Meyer’s line is earth-friendly and natural.  Mrs. Meyer’s products are sold at many different retailers nationwide, on Amazon, and from the Mrs. Meyer’s site.  Right now, you can pick up the Iowa Pine hand care set and soy candle combo for just $14.99!

7.  POURfect Kitchen Tools I love products that make my time in the kitchen a bit easier, so these bowls and measuring cups are pretty exciting to me.  The bowls have a dripless spout that makes pouring the bowl’s contents less messy.  Plus there’s a little pivot below the spout that let’s you latch the bowl onto another bowl for more accurate pouring. Total, these products have eight features that help you mix, measure, and pour easier.  (I just keep thinking how easy pancake batter will be with these!)  The measuring cups and spoons also have the POURfect spout, and I love how stackable the measuring cups are.  (I need all the help organizing my kitchen I can get!)  And this might sound unusual, but we were pretty excited to find the POURfect measurements are in both English and Metric units (and in Braille).  See, my husband grew up in Canada and so works better in Metric measurements, while I am only really comfortable with the English system.  We can’t be the only family who would find this dual measurement marking helpful!  The POURfect products and sets are priced  at $12 to $42 and can be purchased on the POURfect site or from select retailers across the country.

8.  KitchenCUE I have some friends that really enjoy cooking and learning new techniques in the kitchen.  For these women, KitchenCUE may be a wonderful gift!  KitchenCUE is a series of DVDs that teach cooking techniques, allowing you to then take the technique and apply it to hundreds of meals.  Recently featured in Oprah’s O magazine, KitchenCue is available in Saute and Pan Sauces, Soups and Stocks, and Roasting.  Along with learning the technique from Chef Shellie Kark, the DVD package also includes reinforcement recipes, printable tables and charts, users guide, wine pairings, equipment reference, regional cuisine instructions, herb and spice guidance, and more.  What a fun idea for someone who loves- or is learning- to cook.  KitchenCUE is available for $29.95 here or at select retailers.

Holiday Gift Guide: For Her is a post from: Mrs. Moneysaver

Today only, PhotoWorks is offering 11 oz photo mugs for just $5 each, plus free shipping.  Just use the coupon code 5DOLLARMUG at checkout.  I don’t think there’s a limit on how many you can order using this code!  This would make a very thoughtful, inexpensive Christmas gift for someone on your shopping list.

PhotoWorks: $5 Mugs, Today Only is a post from: Mrs. Moneysaver

I’m back with yet another edition of the Mrs. Moneysaver 2009 Holiday Gift Guide! Today’s topic-  stocking stuffers.

1.  Glee Gum-  Okay, so this gum might cost a bit more than Dentyne.  But for a stocking, sometimes you want something with a bit more pizazz, right?   Plus, Glee Gum is currently the only gum in the US made with old-fashion chicle, and it’s also free from artificial coloring, flavoring, and sweeteners.  And it’s preservative-free too.  Glee Gum is “green” in that the chicle is harvested from Central American rain forests in a sustainable way and the package is made of biodegradable, recycled cardboard.  Kind of more exciting than Dentyne, right?  If you want to get fancy with the gum idea, you can also purchase make-your-own kits from Glee.  Check here for a retailer near you.  (My local Whole Foods stores, as well some other coffee shops and health stores, sell this gum.

2.  Spaghetti Scrub Out of all the prospective gift guide products I was told about, this item from Goodbye Detergent! was one of the most original.  The Scrubs, sold in packs of two, are made with peach pits and corn cob, look like gobs of spaghetti, and are used to wash dishes.  Detergent isn’t even needed with the scrubs (though you can use a little bit if you feel like it!)  We have loved the Spaghetti Scrubs since we received them!  You can buy 2-packs for $7-$9 in many stores, as well as online at retailers like Amazon.  Get more details and buying information here.

3.  Glade Candles Holiday Collection I love the smells of Christmas time, and Glade has a nice line of holiday candles in scents of Bayberry Spice and Apple Cinnamon- both perfect for this time of year.  The apple cinnamon smells like you could eat it!  Glade has these scents available in refillable scented oil candles for both glass holders and tins, as well as 4 oz candle jars.  These candles are reasonable priced in stores like Walmart and Target, but there have been plenty of coupons in newspaper inserts, giving you even bigger savings.

4.  Goody Green Bags-  Reusable shopping bags are very popular right now, and Good Green Bags has designed a line of stylish ones!  This might sound so vain, but I’m much more likely to remember to use my reusable bags if they’re cute.  I received a nice brown and pink polka dot bag to sample, and like it so much.  You can buy Goody Green Bags for about $9 to $10 at Whole Foods, Target.com, and other select retailers, as well as through the Goody Green Bag site.  And if you order through this link, you can save 15% on your order!

5.  Divine Chocolate Several months ago I read a magazine article about the widespread injustices of the chocolate industry, and at that point became very interested in fair trade chocolate.  While fair trade chocolate does cost a bit more, you can rest assured that the farmers in underdeveloped areas of the world are being paid fairly for their cocoa beans.  And to me, that’s worth paying a little extra.  Divine Chocolate is a fair trade chocolate brand that offers some pretty delicious treats!  Like the dark chocolate raspberry bar… yum!  You can find Divine Chocolates at Whole Foods and buydivine.com.  If you like to include chocolates in stockings, consider giving fair trade chocolate from Divine.

6.  Vapur This “anti-bottle” reusable water container is unique in the fact that it is flexible.  While Vapur stands up when it’s full of water, it rolls and folds up when it’s empty and is “squeezable”.  The Vapur is BPA-free and can be cleaned in the dishwasher and frozen.  It sells for $8.95, or you can pick up a family pack for $29.95.  Plus, you have your pick between blue, pink, and green.  Vapur is available on Amazon and at Vapur.us.  (It got great reviews on Amazon too, so apparently I’m not alone is thinking the Vapur is a cool product!)

7.  Christmas Pickle Ornament Like the Spaghetti Scrub I mentioned above, the Christmas Pickle fell into the creative gift category.  Really, I’ve never seen anything quite like it for Christmas.  But it’s just fun.  This pickle-like ornament sings, and comes with a legend that explains the whole thing.  The legend og the Christmas pickle says that families should hide the pickle in the tree each Christmas, letting the children (and adults!) search for it on Christmas morning.  The one who finds is said to have good luck throughout the new year.  The Christmas Pickle is just a fun idea, and retails for about $7 at Lowe’s stores.

The products reviewed above were provided to me by the company.  The opinions shared within the review are mine and were not provided by the companies.

Holiday Gift Guide: Stocking Stuffers is a post from: Mrs. Moneysaver

I decided to change up the usual format of the gift guide today, sharing a video of some unique gift ideas for the men on our Christmas shopping lists.  Below the video you’ll find the websites and ordering information.   If you’re reading this from an email, you’ll have to click over to the actual website to view the video.

1.  Remington 8-in-1 Grooming System-  10 adjustable settings for hair trimming and grooming.  Available at Target and Walmart stores, as well as here, for about $19.99.

2.  ChicoBag Messenger RePETe-  Made of 80% recycled water bottles, this is great for the environmentally-conscious guy on your shopping list.  PlusIt comes in a variety of colors, and is priced at $17.99 here.  (You’ll also find other bags on their site!)

3.  BustedTees.com Tons of edgy, comfortable T-shirts.  Right now there’s a $10 mega sale going on too!

4. FLAG-  Beautiful black and white pictures of the American flag by Victor Friedman.  Retail price is $18, but Barnes & Noble has it priced at less than $15 online right now, and Amazon has it for $12.96.

5. Extreme Cuisine-  160 pages of international delicacies!  You can find it in bookstores, as well as on Amazon, for $9.99.  Catch a sneak peak of the book here.

6.  J&D’s Ultimate Bacon Lover’s Gift Pack-  The gift pack includes 6 bacon flavored seasoning salts, baconnaise, and bacon lip balm.  It’s available from the J&D site for $39.99, though you can also find it in stores and at Amazon.com.

The products reviewed above were provided to me by the company.  The opinions shared within the review are mine and were not provided by the company.

Holiday Gift Guide: For Him is a post from: Mrs. Moneysaver

This is the sixth installment in a series of gift guides, where I’m sharing some creative gift ideas for a wide range recipients.  Nearly all the ideas are under $50, and I’m hoping this will give you a hand in shopping for those people on your guest list that are just so hard to shop for!

1.  Chef Joe’s Cookies I have to say, of all the food gift packages I received to review for the gift guide, the one-dozen variety gift box of Chef Joe’s Cookies was the swankiest looking.  Just plain classy.  The sweets came in a nice black and logo, square box , topped off with a dainty white ribbon.  The cookies inside were great too.  I found the cookies were a bit thicker than you might definitely expect, making these size-able treats that taste almost bar-like (but delicious!).   And the cookies are all-natural and preservative free.   The one-dozen gift sets are available for $19.95, while larger quantity-boxes are a bit more.

2.  Cafe Bustelo Gourmet Gift Sets As I’ve shared before, to say my husband is a big coffee drinker is a bit of an understatement.  (Perhaps its his Canadian roots?)  He loves coffee, but is also very particular about the coffee he drinks.   But when my husband found and sampled the Cafe Bustelo Gift Basket the day it arrived, he quickly declared it his new love and his favorite of all the gift guide product samples I received.  You see, the Cafe Bustelo basket from Java Cabana came with a set of six espresso cups, a 36 oz can of Cafe Bustelo espresso coffee, and an imported, stove-top espresso pot.  Not only did my husband like the espresso quite a bit, but after a little internet research, he found ways to use the stove-top pot to create all sorts of espresso-based drinks right from our home.  So he’s thrilled to be able to enjoy these nice espresso drinks all the time, and I’m happy because he’s buying coffee from Starbucks less.  It’s a win-win.  With a retail price of $39.99, the Cafe Bustelo basket would be worth every penny to my coffee-loving husband. (They have other sets available for less, with prices starting at $29.99.)  Definitely a gift to consider for a coffee-drinker on your Christmas shopping list.

3.  Stacks of Snacks from Executive Baskets When I received my Stack of Snacks recently, my first thought was how pretty the whole thing looked!  With classy Christmas-red gift boxes and a beautiful ribbon keeping the stack of boxes together, I almost hated to take it apart to look inside.  Once I did unstack the boxes though, I was pretty excited to find some very yummy snacks in each.  Each of the four boxes held snacks like dried fruit, caramels, olives, and cookies- a nice assortment.  My favorite:  the kettle fresh chocolate fudge found in one of the boxes.  Delicious!  The Stacks of Snacks could be a nice idea for someone on your Christmas list who is tough to shop for, or a gift for a business contact.  The Stacks of Snacks tower is priced at about $53.
The products reviewed above were provided to me by the companies.  The opinions shared within the review are mine and were not provided by the company.

Holiday Gift Guide- Food Gift Sets, Part 2 is a post from: Mrs. Moneysaver

(Photo credit:  D’Arcy Norman)

Kroger is currently offering free personalized phone calls from Santa or Sammy the Snowman (or Tony Stewart- because, as we all know, NASCAR is the epitome of Christmas whimsy :)  ).  Just sign in or register with the Kroger site to get started.  You don’t need to have a Kroger card to sign up.

Unfortunately, they aren’t offering personalized calls for every name out there, only those on their list.  My daughter’s name (Sadie) isn’t available, but my son’s name (Jack) is.  So instead, Santa will be calling my husband at 7:30 tonight.  I’m sure he will feel compelled to be on his best behavior after he hears that Santa is watching him.  Hehe.

Free Personalized Christmas Calls is a post from: Mrs. Moneysaver

Amazon is giving a different Christmas song away (to download) each day this month through the 25th.  So far you can download the following songs:
“Joy To The World” by Casting Crowns
“Snow Angel” by Tori Amos
“The Coventry Carol” by Mediaeval Baebes

And a new song will be made available each day.  Click here to view the music and download.

25 Days of Free Christmas Music is a post from: Mrs. Moneysaver

This is the fifth installment in a series of gift guides, where I’m sharing some creative gift ideas for a wide range recipients.  Nearly all the ideas are under $50, and I’m hoping this will give you a hand in shopping for those people on your guest list that are just so hard to shop for!

Sometimes, rather than buying individual gifts for members of one family, we buy a gift for a whole family to enjoy together instead.  Here are some fun family gift ideas!

1.  Auntie Anne’s Make-Your-Own-Pretzel Kit Have a family on your gift list that loves Auntie Anne’s pretzels?  (I know my kids and I do!)  Then this pretzel making kit might be a neat gift idea that encourages family fun.  Each kit, priced at $12.95, comes with all the dry ingredients and directions needed to make 10 homemade Original or Cinnamon Sugar pretzels. Yum!  The recipient of the kit just needs to provide the vegetable oil, butter, and cooking spray.  What a fun project for a family to do together!  You can pick up the Make-Your-Own-Pretzel Kit at participating Auntie Anne’s location or on the company website.

2.  Corel Digital Studio 2010 Okay, this gift idea is a bit above the $50 budget most of the other gift guide ideas are sticking to, priced at around $100.  (Make sure you don’t miss the $50 Amazon deal at the end of this paragraph though!)  But depending on your spending budget, this could be a great gift that keeps giving for a family on your list.  (Or even a gift for your own family that allows you to make future gifts for others right from home.)  Corel 2010 is photo software that allows you to edit your pictures and make them into home videos as well as gifts such as calendars.  You can even design and print your own photo greeting cards with this software right from your own printer.  So whether for a family on your gift list or as investment in your own future gift-giving, Corel is a gift that can help families get creative- and save money- in the months and years to come.  You can buy Corel Digital Studio 2010 here, or from major retailers like Best Buy for about $100.  But right now, Amazon has it priced for 50% off at $49.99!  Woohoo!

3.  Around The Table The Around The Table games- all priced at less than $10- are conversation card games meant to get families and friends talking.  Each set has 50 to 100 questions listed on cards, gathered with a carabiner clip, that encourage fun conversation.  And since the conversation cards are all clipped together, it’s perfect for around the dinner table, car trips, and sleepovers.  Around The Table makes several different editions, such as Family Talk, Grandparent Talk, Teen Talk, and Buddy Talk, each with questions specific for those relationships.  I’ve seen so many families struggle with conversation past the typical “How was your day?” and “Fine”, so I think Around The Table cards are a fun idea!  While my kids are a bit too young for these right now, I can’t wait to use them as a family when they get older.  (For now, we’ll ask the questions of our church youth group kids!)  You can purchase Around The Table cards here, or look for a retailer near you that carries the games.

The products shared above were provided to me by the companies.  The opinions shared are mine and were not provided by the company.

Holiday Gift Guide: Families is a post from: Mrs. Moneysaver

I ran the following article last December, but still enjoy giving this gift so much that I think it is worthwhile to share again.

I’m pretty excited about how this homemade cookie mix gift turned out, so I think it might be useful to share with you. The cost was pretty minimal and hopefully it will be a nice treat for the family we’re giving it to!  I haven’t yet put the finishing touches on … just a simple ribbon bow and attached recipe card.

The jar above contains all the dry ingredients for butterscotch cookies.  All the family receiving the jar will have to do is add the wet ingredients and bake!  It’s a fun and thought gift.  Plus,  the cookie mix jar gift is incredibly easy to assemble!

To make, get a large jar with a sealed lid. 2 quarts or so, maybe?  Unfortunately, I’m not sure of the exact size, but make sure it’s large enough to fit all the ingredients listed below. I got my jar from Michael’s. The regular price was $6.99, but I was able to use a 40% off coupon, making the jar only $4.

Next, gather the following ingredients. (I was able to just dip into my stockpile of baking supplies in order to lower the cost.)

4 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 cups packed brown sugar
1 cup white sugar
2 1/2 to 3 cups butterscotch chips  (Substitute semi-sweet morsels to make chocolate chip cookies instead.)

Mix together flour, salt, and baking soda well in bowl.

Using a funnel or rolled piece of paper, pour the flour mix into the bottom of clean jar. Pack flour down using ladle or turkey baster end. Next, layer the brown sugar on top of the flour. Pack tightly. Then layer the white sugar, followed by the butterscotch chips. Put lid on jar, and attach the following recipe card with a ribbon.

Voila! A delicious, inexpensive homemade gift!

Play It Again: Homemade Cookie Mix Gift is a post from: Mrs. Moneysaver