Horizon Little Blends How to Make Sneaky Fruits and Vegetables Thermos & 4 Pack Giveaway 11/25/09 UPDATED 2 Thermos: Winner!

Delayed Winner Announcement Due to the Holiday!

Winner is:

andrews_bella@yahoo.com

An e-mail will be sent!

Congratulations and thanks to all who entered!

Getting my children to eat good foods has always been difficult.  I think my now 21 year old's body would shut down if she had to eat fruit and vegetables every day.  My now six year old wasn't much better although she's a little easier to persuade into trying something here and there.  The two year old LOVES food!  I hit the jackpot with her compared to the other two but she still has aversions to certain appearance, texture an color as all three do.

In a challenge from TwitterMoms, here are some of my favorite ways to get them to eat include:

*courtesy of i.ehow.com

Fruit on pancakes:  They love pancakes and it makes it more appealing when I let the six year old put on her chef's apron and help to whip up the gourmet food. 

Sundaes:  Can't go wrong with multiple varities of toppings for ice cream.  Pineapple, bananas and whatever else they might remotely like is always appealing to pile on top.

Fruit and cheese plates:  This is a classic in our home as they really enjoy making little customized plates of fruit and cheese cubes arranged with toothpicks.  If you want to jazz it up, pay a little extra for the fancier toothpicks as there are so many now to choose from.

Chocolate covered fruit:  They can't pass on the chance to dip their favorite fruits into melted chocolate.  The whole process of melting the chocolate is fun in itself and imagine putting them on swords of little wood and letting them have fun?

*courtesy of smoothiefresh.com

Fruit smoothies:  This is a great example on how to best sneak fruit into something that is fun. 

The thing I found most appealing if the kids are at the right age is to have them help make everything.  They tend to eat what they make and if they are having fun creating it, what more can you ask for?

As for other vegetables, you can puree them or smash them up into foods such as spaghetti sauce and anything else that can hide the color and appearance of healthy.

Horizons has this treat line of products called Little Blends and if you click on the link, there is a coupon!  This new brand of yogurt blends fruits and vegetables in a great tasting healthy food for unsuspecting little ones.  There are so many benefits to this yogurt which includes all pure and hidden goodness.  Take a look:

"Little Blends™ does that by bringing together veggie and fruit purees in a delicious yogurt with a creamy texture that kids love. So your kids get the benefits of whole milk yogurt and an extra helping of vegetable goodness.

Plus, produced without the use of artificial flavors, preservatives, colors, and sweeteners, Little Blends is natural. And that means no high fructose corn syrup and only milk from cows free of growth hormones (rbST). In fact, every container supplies 25% of the recommended daily value (DV) of protein Natural goodness means no added hormones, no artifical flavors or ingredients, and no high-fructose corn syrup.(great for growing bodies), 20% DV of calcium (crucial to developing strong bones and teeth), 20% DV of Vitamin A, plus Vitamin D, Iron, and probiotics.

Little Blends is also a source of DHA Omega-3, a nutrient that doctors agree children don’t get enough of. Shown to help support eye, brain and heart health for growing kids, DHA Omega-3 is a fatty acid that has been recognized as playing an important role in children’s development.

DHA Omega-3 For the Brain
Highly concentrated in the brain, it accounts for up to 20% of total brain mass. Scientists are currently researching the possibility that a lack of DHA may contribute to certain behavioral and mood disorders.

DHA Omega-3 for Eye Health
DHA is a major structural fat in the retina of the eye, accounting for up to 50% of the total fatty acid in the retina. Because of this prevalence, researchers suspect it plays a critical part in visual development for infants and children.

It’s all part of our commitment to ensuring kids get the best start with the best foods. And why Little Blends isn’t just good, it’s naturally good."

The Giveaway:

TWO cool thermos with matching Horizon Little Blends Spoon and a coupon for  one FREE four pack of Little Blends Yogurt. 

To Enter:

• Leave a comment that you follow my blog ... easy!  You can even be creative and list any tips on how you get your kids to eat veggies!

Extra Entries:

• Subscribe to my blog - leave a comment - worth five entries
• Follow me on Twitter
• Follow Horizon on Twitter
• Vote for me on Divine Caroline (see widget on left side of home page), return here and tell me what number you are) - worth five entries
• Enter one of my other giveaways, return here and leave a comment on which one you entered - worth five entries

Giveaway ends November 25, 2009 at midnight (EST).


Winner will be chosen by random.org


Thanks for entering!

Picnik Online Photo Creation & Wilton Haunted House Kit Review

After spending the day watching my girls create a Wilton Haunted House, I had the fun task of putting them together in a nice photo collage.

I figured I might as well write a review on the Wilton Halloween Pre-Baked Cookie House Kit while I'm at it.

  

I just checked the reviews at Amazon and the three were in alignment with mine.

• Pieces didn't line up.
• It was hard to hold up the icing bag and the pieces as the tip kept wanting to come off.
• The candy pieces provided were a little on the stingy side.
  

However, the six year old had a great time helping and I did get some good pictures so it was worth the $12.00.

*******

I LOVE picnik.com for having fun with my photos and they have so many features for both free and premium customers. 

Whereas my daughter won't appreciate me sharing this photo, I can't help but to do it!

I can auto fix or manually correct the photos, crop, change sizes and remove red eye.

Once I'm ready to create, I can add many features such as:

• Effects - this provides framing it pink in support of breast cancer awareness month, focal B&W, Orton-ish, Sepia, CinemaScope and so many more.  It allows you to preview before you select and there is an undo option.
• You can add text and rotate to place the text wherever you want as well as change the slant.  Pending on your membership, the choices of fonts increase.  They have a great line for Halloween.
• Stickers is where I have the fun!  They break it into themes such as baby, fall, Christmas, Halloween and more.
• Touch Up allows you to remove blemishes, shine, age, weight and more.
• For a final touch, you can add frames which is another great feature.
• You can purchase gifts, send to Twitter, Facebook and more!

There are so many great features to picnik.com that you have to check it out for yourself to appreciate it!

Chocolate: A Love Story: 65 Chocolate Dessert Recipes from Max Brenner's Private Collection (Hardcover) Review

Product Details:

• Hardcover: 144 pages
• Publisher: Little, Brown and Company (November 2, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0316056626
• ISBN-13: 978-0316056625
• Product Dimensions: 12 x 9.1 x 0.8 inches

Chocolate A Love Story is a collection of 65 chocolate dessert recipes from Max Brenner's private collection.  Max Brenner, at an early age of 10, read Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and decided from that point forward, he was going to find a river of chocolate.

Max has locations in Philadelphia, New York City, Australia, Phillipines, Singapore and Israel and there are many products available at his online shop HERE.  One product that Max is known for is the "Hug Mug" which is a coffee mug shaped to keep your hands warm.  In NYC and Philadelphia, this is a great idea!  If you are looking for a great gift with a chocolate or indulgence theme, this is your spot.

What I enjoyed the most about Chocolate A Love Story was Max's inclusion of himself into the various pages of this creative book.  The artist, Yontan Factor, provides an interesting and unique perspective to introducing art into this clever display of mouthwatering chocolate creations.  I have to admit, my first impression was one of confusion as I couldn't understand how this was a recipe book but after opening my mind, reading personally about Max and the artist, finally each recipe, I quickly fell in love with the concept of the book.  I feel this would be a great gift to any chocolate lover, a chef, a novice or even as a romantic gift.  This is not your run of the mill cookbooks as it's a piece of art on many levels from this chocolate genius.

I believe by reading Max's path towards his reality of bringing his chocolate to life, one can understand the passion behind the book, the recipes and the man himself. 

"On the one hand, it is the most romantic gift; on the other hand, a commodity that is traded in the bourse. It is sold like precious jewelry that is picked carefully from a crystal glass, but also is an addictive snack in every corner kiosk. It is tasted like a fine wine and licked straight from the bowl...These diverse aspects of chocolate and of life are the inspiration for our book."

This is a sample of recipes:

• The Belgian Street Waffle <-- My Favorite
• Spy Thriller Chocolate Black Forest Cake
• Military Porridge
• Pretentious White Chocolate Panna Cotta
• Overwhelming Oriental White Chocolate Malabi
• Meaningless Sweet Spaghetti
• Home Industry Chocolate Cheese Pockets

The entire book if filled with mouth watering enticements which made me want to try nearly all of them.  One thing to note, they are not all easy recipes and are involving with a variety of ingredients and a few steps but well worth it! This is a great way to either indulge yourself or someone else.

I tried the Belgian Street Waffles and loved them!  I had to buy a few extra ingredients that I don't normally have on hand but most recipes are like that unless you are already a master chef.  The bonus I like about Chocolate A Love Story is that Max describes how to display your own masterpiece on the plate for the final touch. 

I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes to cook and who likes chocolate.  This makes a great table book or an addition to the recipe book collection.  It's a beautiful display of creativity coupled with delicious recipes.

Special thanks to Hachette Book Group and The Product Review Place for providing this opportunity to review Chocolate A Love Story.

          

Note:  Hachette Book Group provided this opportunity to review Chocolate A Love Story.  I was provided the book and received no financial compensation to provide my independent review.

List Your Giveaway & Don't Forget to Enter My Many Giveaways: PUR Water, Betty Crocker, Eden Fantasys, The Gap, Zazzle, iTunes, Robin Meade & MORE

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Click below to enter your giveaways or find more giveaways:

My Current Giveaways:

YouthfulTips $25 Zazzle Gift Certificate 10/31/09

YouthfulTips $20 GAP and $15 iTunes Giftcards Giveaway 10/31/09

Youthfultips Leslie Blodgett Perfume 10/31/09

YouthfulTips Prehistin Anti-Histamine Giveaway 10/31/09

YouthfulTips Christian Siriano Fierce Style 5 Copies 10/31/09

YouthfulTips 5 Bottles Infectiguard 10/31/09

YouthfulTips Pur Favor Options Water Filtration System Pitcher 10/31/09

YouthfulTips Prehistin Anti-Histamine Giveaway 10/31/09

YouthfulTips 10 $1.50 I Can't Believe It's Not Butter Coupon Giveaway 10/31/09

YouthfulTips Mega Healthy Giveaway Softlips, Cystex, CertainDri & More 11/01/09

YouthfulTips Snuggle Up It’s Cold Eden Fantasys Oil & $25 Gift Card Giveaway 11/07/09

YouthfulTips Permission Slips Book Review & Giveaway (5 Copies) Sherri Shepherd 11/10/09

YouthfulTips Handy Manny Repair Shop $100 Gift Card

YouthfulTips Step Up to Shape Up (01/01/10)

Watch for more great giveaways coming soon!

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Perricone GREAT Special: Expires 10/28/09 at 11:59 pm EST

Just received an e-mail special where you buy $195 worth of Perricone products, you get a 30 day supply of Dr. Perricone's favorites for FREE!  That's a $169 value!

I love the products but I haven't stuck to anyone in particular yet.  I'm still holding out of the fountain of youth in a jar.  I'm still using CellCeuticals but am always on the lookout for something better!  Any tips on what you like?  Leave them here please! 

H1N1 Over Estimated? According to CBS, YES

I'm a little on pins and needles one moment when I hear about H1N1 mostly because I have two children that fall into the higher risk category and I already experienced a nasty cold turn into pneumonia due to some medical mistakes whereas my youngest nearly died last November and was intubated for well over a week.  So when I hear all these pandemic reports, it puts fear into me and I try to tell myself that it's partly due to misinformation and an overhyped media.  Now I'm reading it's been categorized as a national emergency so my government is overhyping it perhaps.

According to a new study by CBS:

A three-month-long investigation by CBS News, released earlier this week that included state-by-state test results, revealed some very different facts. The CBS study found that H1N1 flu cases are NOT as prevalent as feared. A CBS article even states:

"If you've been diagnosed "probable" or "presumed" 2009 H1N1 or "swine flu" in recent months, you may be surprised to know this: odds are you didn't have H1N1 flu. In fact, you probably didn't have flu at all."

Obviously CBS News and the CDC are completely contradicting each other. So who is right?

Well, CBS reports that in late July 2009 the CDC advised states to STOP testing for H1N1 flu, and they also stopped counting individual cases.

Their rationale for this, according to CBS News, was that it was a waste of resources to test for H1N1 flu because it was already confirmed as an epidemic.

So just like that virtually every person who visited their physician with flu-like symptoms since late July was assumed to have H1N1, with no testing necessary because, after all, there's an epidemic.

It's interesting to note that at the same time as the CDC decided the H1N1 epidemic warranted no further testing for cases due to its epidemic status, Finnish health authorities actually downgraded the threat of swine flu.

In late July the health ministry and the National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) in Finland actually removed swine flu from a list of diseases considered dangerous to the public because the majority of cases recovered without medication or hospital care!

And, as the CDC continues to use fear to motivate and control Americans with their worst-case swine flu scenarios, they say nothing of the experience of those in the southern hemisphere, which just finished their flu season and found it was not as bad as expected.

I also just read a poll on another news outlet that shows that most Americans believe it's mostly hyped.  Tonight, Mike Huckabee is even talking about it on his show.

To read more on the CBS story, go HERE.

What do you think?  Are you scared or is it overhyped?

So Smart Children's Learning Collection Sale: Ends October 27, 2009

Trusted by parents for over a decade, our award-winning DVD's, music CD's, and other great products are enjoyed by young children around the world.

So Smart! Productions is a leading creator and producer of top-rated educational entertainment products for young children. Its trusted brands include So Smart! Baby’s Beginnings and Baby’s First Word-Stories for babies and toddlers, and King Otis and The Kingdom of Goode for preschoolers.


Founded in 1997 by early childhood development researcher and artist, Alexandra Tornek, and husband and media producer, Scott Tornek, their DVDs and music CDs—with simple stories, adorable characters, catchy songs and a pace that’s just right—are enjoyed by families around the world.

HauteLook.com has a great special going on until October 27, 2009 so hurry as samples go fast!

Here are some of the products they have but there are many more:

Introduce your baby and toddler to the wonderful sounds of ten, popular musical instruments set to cute, animated animal adventures. A lumbering elephant made of simple shapes moves to the melodic sound of a guitar; birds flock together as a violin plays; and a frog hops to the sound of a clarinet. Featuring the music of Mozart, Haydn and other greats!

Approximate run time: 30 minutes plus bonus activities and printables

Additional Information:

• Winner of Parenting Magazine's Video of the Year.
• For ages 6 months to 3 years.
• Made in USA
• $7.99 50% off

Simple, animated stories provide babies and toddlers with a fun, new way to build their vocabulary.

Approximate run time: 30 minutes plus bonus activities and printables

Additional Information:

• Winner of Parenting Magazine's Video of the Year.
• Ages 9 months to 3 years.
• Made in USA
• $9.99 - 38% off

Hape Toy Special Until October 26, 2009

Hautelook.com has a fantastic assortment of Hape Toys on sale!  They are also having a $4.95 shipping special on all orders.

Airport attendants tell us that the Monster Mountain Table is the perfect activity to encourage cooperative play with as many as 6 children at one time. With 104 wooden beads gliding over 10 play wires that have been secured into a solid Baltic Birch table top; there are no removable parts. The sculptured wires are locked into place with our stainless steel anchoring system that is developed to extend the life of this play center in busy settings. For added safety, the steel legs can be bolted to the floor.


Additional Information:

• Measurements:  30" x 20" x 31"
• Age-Range: For Ages 2 and Up
• Imported
• Materials:  Birch Wood

They are over 50% off so hurry fast as they don't last long!

Made from organic maple, each Anamalz is individually branded by the natural grain of the wood and the touch of a craftsman. The time spent in creating this range of Anamalz will be outnumbered by the hours children will spend in role play and story-telling with their favorite new lion, giraffe or pig. All have endearing hand-painted faces.

Fall Into Good Health Series: Homeopathy Medicines for Children

As part of my series in getting healthier and having two children with chronic medical conditions both linked to elevated risks with H1N1, I am definitely in tuned to alternative methods of safeguarding them.  The homeopathic drugs allow another alternative to treating illnesses and diseases without the worry of contraindications.  With epilepsy, Keppra has warnings and with severe asthma, the same holds true.  As I approach this winter and all the reports of an increase risk with H1N1, this appears to be a good approach for me. 

These are some of the ways I'm safeguarding my family:

1. Everyone washes their hands frequently and in particularly, after a sneeze or blowing of the nose. 
2. Hand sanitizer is used when washing hands is not viable.  We go through a lot of hand sanitizer!  I don't bombard the house with an abundance of anti-bacterial products as I feel too much of a good thing could be bad.
3. Vitamins are taken by both myself and my husband as well as my children. 
4. Ensuring everyone is getting good sound sleep and eating a well balanced, healthy meal is also critical.
5. Light therapy via playing outside in the sun.  This was actually prescribed by one of my daughter's allergist for both girls as he was telling me how lack of Vitamin D is increasingly becoming an issue in the US and kids need to spend more time outside.

If you aren't aware of what homeopathy is, it's a therapeutic method to help the body and heal itself.  This type of medicine has been around since the beginning of time and with more and more people becoming concerned about what we are putting in our bodies, homeopathic medicine is a great alternative.  More and more practicing physicians are incorporating natural ways into their routine with patients.

Current homeopathic medicinces are used for many conditions such as allergies, flu-like symptoms, coughs and colds, arthritis pain, depression and the list goes on.  As a parent, I've been very attuned to the recent reports warning of over the counter medications and the dangers associated with them.  In fact, many aren't available any longer due to this concern mostly because of human error in administration.  I felt I was without choices other than Vicks and a vaporizer and really felt compassion towards the little one as they have no relief from symptoms.  To me, it's going to be more difficult to get better if they can't sleep and are too busy crying out of frustration and feeling miserable.

I just learned from the One2One Network that there are choices and I can't be more thrilled!  Boiron, been around for more than 65 years, just introduced three new homeopathic medicines for children!

1. Children's Oscilloccinum helps to nip flu-like symptoms.
2. Children's Coldcalm Pellets is a multi-symptom cold reliever.
3. Children's Chestal is for all types of coughs. 

These homeopathic medicines work naturally and safely without nasty side effects or drug interactions which means I can administer this with the six year old's Keppra and the two year old's allergy/asthma medications.  Another bonus is they are apparently sweet tasting and kid-friendly.

Bioron recommends having the Children's Oscilloccinum on hand since it works the best at the first onset of symptoms of a cold.  All of the Bioron line can be purchased without a prescription and are available at most major drug stores and other retail outlets.  Click HERE to find a retail location near you.

Because Bioron is a pharmaceutical company, they strive to maintain the highest standards in manufacturing and other areas of quality.  If you would like to learn more about homeopathic medicine, Bioron has a host of resources by clicking HERE.

For a $1 off coupon, click HERE.

After all, happy kids make happy parents!

*I was not paid nor compensated for this entry.

Eat Better America! Share this great offer!

Sign up for a free Nature Valley Trail Mix Bar and a sample of Nature Valley Nut Clusters while supplies last. This is a great website devoted to healthy living and great recipes.

Look at this recipe for cream cheese brownies with 50% less fat, 50% less sat fat and 23% fewer calories by clicking HERE.

The site is broken down by Healthified, Recipes, Diet & Nutrition, Fitness and Community. By joining, you get exclusive offers for healthy savings, recipes, newsletters and more. What I like about the recipe section is there are reviews which influences if I make something new by seeing what others already have found out.

Share this great offer!

Tutu's Galore at AdorableBabyClothing

Looking for Tutu's for your little princess?

If you follow my blog, you know how much I write about www.adorablebabyclothing.com.  I fell in love with the clothing selection as it was of high quality and I think my first purchase was the adorable pink bunny Halloween costume for my then baby.  I just purchased matching Christmas dresses to take them into www.thepicturepeople.com for their Christmas portraits.

Lady Bug Tutu Set

As I was looking for the latest and greatest, I stumbled on this incredible array of tutu's. 

The one above in a ladybug theme is so creative and unique.  It has crystal eyes and Swarovski red crystals trailing giving it a delightful, shimmering look.  It's available either in a onesie or tee.  This is a gorgeous edition to any girl's wardrobe and makes quite the birthday outfit!

Onesie or Tee: Shiny lady bug applique crawls across a Black Onesie or girl's fitted Tee, leaving a trail of red Swarovski crystals behind her. Onesie available in long sleeve or short; Tee available in short sleeve only. Tutu (shown with 8" length)... has 8 layers of Red and Black tulle, double the fullness of our regular Tutus, triple layered Bow Pin is removable with red and black satin ribbons topped with a darling lady bug pattern grosgrain ribbon

There are a variety of birthday specific tutu's as well.  There are some that are age specific and others that are not.  The one above I used as an example sparkles with Swarovski crystals in which you choose the age from 1 to 8 and crystal color.  It looks amazing to me!

Cup Cake Tutu Set

Cup Cake Tutu Set - Pom Pom Tutu: The Baby Pink Tutu is filled with a colorful mix of pink, blue and lime Pom Poms, and finished with a big colorful cupcake bow. Any little girl would LOVE this Tutu! Elastic waist, tutu length is approximately 8"-9" long, and can be adusted shorter or longer upon request; pin on bow is removable. Onesie or Tee..our Baby Pink onesie or fitted tee is embellished with a cute cupcake design in sparkling Swarovski crystals of pink, blue and lime, and topped with the birthday girl's age in sparkling pink crystals.

Pirate Princess Tutu Set

This one would be one of my favorites because we have a house full of Johnny Depp Pirates fans. 

Onesie.. our black onesie with Pink Pirate Princess design on front and Jolly Roger design on baby's bottom pairs perfectly with our Punk style Tutu.

Tutu.. Punk style Tutu has 8 layers of black and pink tulle; fantastic pin on bow is layered with black, pink and skull design ribbon. Tutu has elastic waist and is approximately 8" in length and fits babies through age 2.

It even has a matching headband you can purchase.

The sizes range from 6 months to 24 months.

If you are looking for a unique, high quality Christmas present, birthday gift or just because, you won't be disappointed!

Fabulous Martha Stewart Bat and Cob Web Cookies

Ingredients


Makes about 30

• 6 cups all-purpose flour (sifted, then measured), plus more for dusting
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 8 ounces (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup packed dark-brown sugar
• 4 teaspoons ground ginger
• 4 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cloves
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 2 large eggs
• 1 1/2 cups unsulfured molasses

Royal Icing Directions

1. Sift flour, baking soda, and baking powder together into a large bowl; set aside.
2. Put butter and sugar into the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment; beat on medium-high speed until fluffy. Beat in ginger, cinnamon, cloves and salt. Beat in eggs and molasses. Reduce speed to low; beat in flour mixture.
3. Divide dough into three equal pieces, and flatten into disks. Wrap each in plastic wrap. Refrigerate 1 hour.
4. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Print out the bat and cobweb templates found here, and cut them out. On a lightly floured work surface, roll out dough to 1/8 inch thick. Refrigerate until firm, about 30 minutes. Using templates and a paring knife, cut dough into shapes. Transfer shapes to baking sheets and refrigerate 15 minutes.
5. 5.Bake until crisp but not darkened, 8 to 10 minutes. Let cool completely on wire racks. Decorate with royal icing.

From Halloween 2004, October 2004
 
Extra tips from others on Martha's site:
 
10/30/08 at 9:11 a.m. ET


to make the spider web you start in the center and make a spiral working from the center of the cookie on out towards the edges.Then take a tookpick and put it in the center of the cookie and draw it out towards each point. Then in between each point put the toothpick again at the edge and go towards the center..go luck they come out great!

10/23/08 at 9:50 a.m. ET


It takes a lot of black gel color to get a rich black. One way to achieve it easier and use less gel color is to add cocoa powder first and make your icing dark brown then add a few drops of the black gel color to get to the desired color faster.

Disney, Thomas Kinkade & More Christmas Ideas: CollectiblesToday

One of my favorite shops at Christmas time is Collectibles Today.  They have a great array of high quality yet personal products.  Famous names such as Thomas Kinkade and Disney are part of their wonderful product line.

Last year, as I like to purchase a special ornament a year for each of the kids was the Rudolph the Reindeer personalized ornament.  When the little one opened it, it wasn't as big of a deal as it will be this year as she's only one but wait until she starts realizing how special each ornament she will collect to take with her when she grows up will be.
Thomas Kinkade is one of my favorites and I usually pick a floral centerpiece that has one of his inspired pieces adorning the middle.  My table looks timely yet elegant. 

These are some of my favorites this year:












Collectibles is running some specials too:

Hidden Special Offers Page

Great Stocking Stuffer Ideas & More

Are you spending HOURS looking for the perfect stocking stuffers?

I found some great products!

This one I absolutely love the idea of making my two little one's think Santa was at our house.

Santa-Clues – For proof of Santa’s visit

A ton of presents under the tree and the fact that the cookies and milk have been consumed, both signify that Santa made a visit the night before. But here’s a way to prove -- to even the most skeptical of young children -- that Santa was really there. All the vestiges that one would imagine Santa would leave behind - glasses, a torn piece of red suit, a large coat button, a boot prints, a sleigh bell on a red ribbon, a toy list, reindeer hoof prints, Santa’s glove -- are included in this set. Place these items strategically near the tree and the kids will squeal with amazement as they discover the clues on Christmas morning. Magic snow is included with Santa Clues to use with the stencils to create the boot prints and reindeer hooves. Ages 4+

It's priced at $14.95 and I know I'm getting it!

Little kids LOVE bandaids so why not give a set of these really cool bandaids?

Bandages - Big Girls Don't Cry

After the fingers, we’re sure the feet are the next biggest consumers of band aids. Whether it’s those new 4 inch heels you are trying to break in, or your Converse sneakers that you walked in 14 miles without socks….blisters abound on heels, toes and in-between. When they do take your pick, from this assortment geared to foot attire. Six designs in four different shapes. 24 assorted bandaids packaged in a metal tin. Latex free. Tin measures 2 5/8 inches W x 3 5/8 inches H.

Bandages - Art School

You’re creative, your band aids should be too. For all you budding Warhol’s and Vasarely’s, these are the go to way to accessorize, and protect, cuts and scrapes incurred from pallet knife or daily life. Six different designs – Rainbow, Stars, Waves, Ziz-Zag, Dots and Squares in three different shapes. Latex free. Come packaged in a metal tin that's 2 5/8 inches W x 3 5/8 inches H.

They come in a metal tin with six different designs for $5.95 and have other selections.

Constructive Eating Utensils Set

Your kids will be happy to hear it’s now okay to play with their food! Here is a set of eating utensils disguised as construction tools. Created by a husband and wife team with three kids, these utensils are scaled for little hands to hold. The set is composed of a "Fork Lift" Fork, "Bulldozer" Pusher and our personal favorite, the "Front Loader" Spoon. We all know little boys love trucks, but we’re sure as soon as "sis" sees these, she’s going to want a set too. Handles are textured to make for easy gripping. The PVC-free, phthalate-free plastic is rugged, lightweight and dishwasher safe. Fork and Spoon measure 5 3/4 inches L x 1 inches W; Pusher is 10 inches L x 6 inches W x approximately 2 inches thick at the widest part. Packing has changed slightly.

Price: $19.95

Maxell M&M Ear Buds - these are really cute!
 
Product Description

M&M'S® stereo ear buds by Maxell deliver sweet sounds to your ears. The M&M'S® ear buds combine Maxell's premium sound capabilities with M&M'S® world renowned 'M' design. The signature M and round shape of the ear buds emulate the candy everyone knows and loves. Available in five vibrant colors, they can match any MP3 player, outfit or even mood. They look great and sound even better. Using Maxell's background in high performance technology, the ear buds deliver premium sound from every music source. The M&M'S® Stereo Ear Buds include two sizes of soft silicone ear tips, ensuring that your ears will not only be fashionable but comfortable as well. The straight 3.5mm plug and matching colored soft touch cord gives you the freedom to dance and move freely. The M&M'S® Stereo Ear Buds bring fun, excitement and freshness to the ever expanding ear bud world.


          

Star Wars Galactic Heroes 3-Pack Stocking Stuffers Stormtrooper, Darth Vader, & Boba Fett

I have a house full of Star Wars fans so this is great!

 

More to come ....

Microsoft Office Standard 2007 Military Appreciation Edition $49.99!

Buy now for $49.99 and save up to 87%.*

Get Office Standard 2007—Military Appreciation Edition for just $49.99. That’s up to $349 off!

You’ve got projects. Lots of projects. Get them done better and easier with Microsoft® Office Standard 2007—Military Appreciation Edition. Office Standard 2007 has a redesigned interface, enhanced tools, and a help system that’s really helpful. So you can organize your household finances, help your kids make great school presentations, and keep everyone connected. It’s just one way we can say thanks.

The Military Appreciation Edition of Office 2007 includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook click HERE.

This offer valid for Active Duty Military, National Guard personnel, Reserves, US Civilian Department of Defense employees when stationed outside of the US, Department of State Officials serving in Foreign countries and dependents of the above. If you can shop for retail merchandise at your local exchange, you are authorized to order from the Catalog and Exchange online store.


*Savings calculated by comparing the limited time price of Office Standard 2007—Military Appreciation Edition to the estimated retail price of Office Standard 2007. Available Jan. 1, 2009 through Dec. 31, 2009 through participating Exchange stores.

**The Catalog and Exchange online store is for the exclusive use of authorized exchange customers.

Teleflora No Service Free Until October 31, 2009

Great news if you are needing or wanting to send flowers until October 31, 2009.  www.teleflora.com is waving the usual $14.99 service fee for sending an order.

Use code EMPFSD.

Adorable Baby Clothing Christmas Dresses

I just purchased my daughter's matching Christmas dresses at www.adorablebabyclothing.com along with gorgeous headbands to match!  I usually get the pictures taken in November to give me enough time to make my Christmas cards and calendars at Zazzle.com.

What I love most about Adorable Baby Clothing is the awesome customer service.  I was going to hold out for the sales at the local department stores but it's so difficult to get two matching dresses in size 3T and 8.  Luckily, with the dresses at Adorable Baby Clothing, the sizes are readily available when you select the dress so you just click the drop down box to see what is available. 

The selection is amazing and the dresses range from traditional to modern.  They even have great outfits for boys which to me, would seem hard to find something that is stylish yet great looking.

I'll post a picture of the Christmas pictures with the girls wearing them once I get them taken.

Don't forget they have a great Halloween selection as well as every day wear, special occasions, personalized and much, much more!

Added Bonus from Adorable Baby Clothing:

The Holidays are fast approaching! Choose now while the best selection is still available! Your little boy or girl can be the best dressed at all those special occasion events. Use the word "holiday" at checkout and save $7.50 on every $50.00 minimum purchase. (coupon expires 11/15/09)