My Family’s Holiday Gift Giving Traditions

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Disclosure- This sponsored post was written by me on behalf of Sverve and Walmart but all opinions are my own.

Opening Chanukah present6

This is a throwback picture of my daughter opening some of her first Chanukah presents- BOOKS!  Both of my girls have always loved books.  My daughter will be 11 years old tomorrow.  Where does the time go?

We celebrate Chanukah in our family.  When my girls were younger we would get them 8 presents (which were usually toys) for Chanukah, one for each night.  Now that they are older we don’t get them 8 big toy gifts any more.  They both have December birthdays so that is when they usually get a bigger gift from us.  For Chanukah we get them smaller gifts each night.  I started a tradition a few years ago of having a theme for each night’s presents and I am going to do that again this year.

The tentative themes for the 8 nights of Chanukah this year will be:

1st Night- Toys

My girls love Barbies and other dolls, figures, etc. so they will probably each get one special doll.  I haven’t totally figured this one out.

2nd Night- Art Supplies

Walmart has a great selection of arts and craft supplies so I will either buy them each a kit to make something or I’ll buy a bunch of art supplies for them to come up with projects on their own.

3rd Night- Movies (DVDs/Blu-rays)

I score some great DVD deals at Walmart on Black Friday.

4th Night- Clothes

I got them really cute pajamas with their favorite characters on them at Walmart on Black Friday plus I will be getting them some other cute outfits.  They love dresses so they will each probably get a new dress, too.

5th Night- Books

My girls are both bookworms, thankfully, so they LOVE getting books.  There are a few books that I knew they are both hoping for so they’ll be getting those.

6th Night- Games

This year I want to have more family game nights in our house so I am going to get them some games that we don’t have.

7th Night- Building Toys

I’ll be check out the K’NEX® Amusement Parks at Walmart’s Toyland event on Friday.  My girls love Disney World so I think my girls would like to build their own amusement park ride with K’NEX® .

8th Night- Jewelry

I bought them each a special necklace that says “You are my Sunshine, My only Sunshine” because I always sing that to them.
You Are My Sunshine Necklace

Growing up my mother used to give my sister and me our main gifts but the first night of Chanukah we always received a gift bag filled with small goodies like nail polish, stickers, lip gloss, and other small things my mother knew we would like.  It was her version of giving us stocking stuffers.  Now I do the same for my girls.  It is one tradition that I have always loved.  I hope my girls do the same when they have children.

What are your family’s holiday gift giving traditions?

chosen by kidsDo you have toys on your holiday shopping list?  Select Walmart stores around the country are having special Toyland events during the month of December.  Find a Walmart’s Holiday Toyland event near you where you can interact with this year’s hottest toys #ChosenByKids.  While you are there you can also utilize Walmart’s Free Layaway and Walmart’s Credit Card on your purchases this holiday season.  Make sure to follow #ChosenByKids on Twitter to follow along.  You can also check out Walmart’s list of 20 top toys #ChosenByKids for 2014.

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How to Choose Jewelry for Your Special Lady This Christmas

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Christmas is a magical time where we spend time choosing the perfect gifts for our loved ones. A gift that women love to receive at Christmas time is beautiful jewelry. However, men don’t always know what to buy for them as there’s so much choice. It’s true that women can be fussy when accessories are involved. Use these tips to help you:

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Take Note of What She Wears

Pay attention to what she usually wears so you have an idea of what to buy for her. Does she love a good pair of earrings? Does she only wear a watch? You need to use your better judgement here, as you can do one of two things. You could either get her a piece to add to her collection of similar pieces, or buy her something that she hasn’t already got. It’s up to you! Think about whether she usually likes to step outside of her comfort zone or not and you should have your answer.

Get an Idea of Her Style

Knowing what item to buy is one thing, but having an idea of a woman’s style is a whole different ball game. She might like modern jewelry, vintage pieces, or quirky pieces. Take a look at what she likes to wear and see if you can come up with any prominent themes.

Show a Picture

One idea is to gather the information above, and then head to a jewelry shop and show a picture of your lady. A female employee might be able to select something nice for her from looking at the picture and getting an idea of her personality. If you plan on buying body jewelry such as earrings, make sure she actually has her ears pierced first. If she doesn’t, you can always go for clip on earrings. If you buy her earrings when her ears aren’t pierced, the gift won’t come across as very thoughtful.

Listen to Her

She might already be dropping a ton of hints to you, and you don’t know because you aren’t listening to her. These hints can be extremely subtle, and she might not even know she’s doing it. Either way, make sure you dissect what she says to get an idea of what she might like. Pay special attention when she’s reading a magazine, browsing the web, or watching the TV. These are all times she could be looking at jewelry and saying helpful things, but you wouldn’t know because you aren’t listening.

Ask Her Friends/Family

Her friends and family, especially the female members, might already know her jewelry style. They may even be able to help you pick something! If you’re seriously stuck on what to buy, her best friend or mother might have a better idea. Make sure they know not to give the game away though.

Use these tips and you should end up with a piece of jewelry that your lady loves. Even if it’s something that she wouldn’t have chosen herself, she’ll love it because you put some thought into it!

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Wow Your Partner With Romantic Chocolate Gifts

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If you’re looking for gift ideas to wow your other half, it’s worth considering chocolate. This luxurious, indulgent product is the perfect symbol of romance. Also, chocolate has long been considered an aphrodisiac.

However, if you’re to impress your partner, it’s important to think outside the box. Here are some great gift ideas that should get your creative juices flowing.

Create a deluxe hamper

One option is to create a deluxe hamper containing a selection of some of your other half’s favorite foods. You can really go to town on these presents. Of course, chocolate gifts will be the star of the show and for the wow factor it’s a good idea to search for unusual chocolate products online. You’ll be able to find an array of exotic and enticing flavor combinations that are bound to put a smile on your partner’s face.

You can team these presents up with some savory delights too. For added opulence, you can select treats like smoked salmon and caviar. Of course, you’ll need something to wash all these goodies down, and a bottle of champagne makes a great addition to any hamper. However, if your partner prefers rich red wine, opt for this instead.

The important thing is to match the contents of your hamper to your other half’s tastes. This attention to detail will show lots of thought and care.

If the weather’s up to it, you could present the hamper outdoors and treat your partner to a picnic in her favorite spot.

Cook up a storm

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Chocolate can also come in handy if you want to cook up a storm. You can use rich dark chocolate in savory dishes like chili, as well as in sauces to go with red meats.

Of course, the more conventional route is to prepare desserts using plenty of chocolate. You can try anything from oozing fondants to fluffy mousses. Another option is to dip strawberries in melted chocolate, chill them and serve. This is easy to prepare and it looks great.

By spending some time in the kitchen creating culinary delights, you can show that someone special in your life that you truly care. It’s also a great opportunity to spend a romantic evening in with your partner. If you get a chance, practice your menu ahead of the big day. This will help ensure you don’t get into any last-minute panics and spoil the meal.

If you’re not sure what to cook, you can check out the array of recipes available online.

Create a personalized message

Chocolate can also be used to create a personalized message. Some chocolate products give you the option of including a special message. Alternatively, you can take a DIY approach. For example, you can pipe melted chocolate onto a dessert or cake and leave your message of choice.

Just make sure you think carefully about what you want to say before you start writing.

When it comes to romantic gifts, chocolate is in a league of its own. With a little imagination, you won’t struggle to impress your partner.

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50 Non-Toy Gifts for Children

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toyskidsLooking for a non-toy gift for children?  Here’s a great list.  Make sure to see the entire list of 50 Non-Toy Gifts for Children. Thanks Super Coupon Lady!

1) HAIR ACCESSORIES -Girls love to fix their hair with pretty Hair Ties and barrettes! Grab a few of these goodies along with special brush.

2) A STAR – Buy and name a star for any occasion! This is especially precious and they will treasure this there entire life. If the star is a little to much

3) A DONATION TO THEIR FAVORITE CHARITY – This is not only a great non-toy gift but a great learning experience for your children to learn about the importance of giving to others.

4) A DAY AT A THEME PARK – A day at a theme park is a awesome way to have a lot of fun with your children and create lifelong memories, I still remember vividly my parents taking me to theme parks as a child and not leaving until the place closed, yes we shut it down lol!!

5) LUGGAGE SET – I never thought of this gift until we went on a vacation together with another family and my daughter noticed her friends super cool Hello Kitty luggage, so I kept that in the memory bank and surprised my daughter for her birthday with luggage!!

6) A TREE – The reason a tree is one of the most awesome non-toy gifts, you can plant it together, it helps the earth, and hopefully the tree will be there for years to come. I remember when I was in elementary school my class planted a tree at school many decades ago (not trying to give away my age here) and now when I go back home to visit, I ride by that tree and think to myself about when I helped plant that tree.

7) FLOWERS – We never think about getting children flowers, but they love to receive them as much as we do! This can be super inexpensive too. Just pick a pretty arrangement and wrap in tissue paper with a ribbon. This gift will get you a big smile!

8) WATCH -Boys and Girls both love to wear WATCHES!!!

9) A PLAY DATE – Arrange a fun playdate with one of a few of their friends. You can even make cupcakes or a special snack to celebrate!

10) WATER BOTTLE – My kids cannot live with out their water bottle, so one day I got them these cool personalized water bottles, and they thought that this was the most awesome gift.

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Pre-Black Friday Jewelry In Candles Sale!!!

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Looking for the perfect gift for the woman who has everything?  Why not give her Jewelry in Candles?  So what is Jewelry in Candles?  Jewelry in Candles is the only company that sells great smelling 100% soy candles and tarts with a jewelry surprise inside that allows you to CHOOSE your favorite jewelry (necklace, earrings, or ring) and choose your ring size.

It’s like 2 gifts in one!
Imagine the fun and excitement she’ll have as she burns her candle and then gets to reveal her new jewelry!

Happy Thanksgiving!
From now until 11/30 you can save 20% off using code: givethanks

PLUS for every $100 you spend by 11/30 you will receive 1 entry to win your choice of scented wax tart including your choice of jewelry.

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The jewelry found in our candles will range from $10 to several thousand dollars. You will discover jewelry ranging from silver plated or gold plated jewelry some with stones made from cubic zirconia or other materials. As the value of the jewelry you discover increases you will find titanium jewelry, solid sterling silver, solid yellow gold and solid white gold and may include real diamonds, rubies or other precious jewels.
From now until
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Cheap DIY Gift

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*Super Cheap DIY Gift*

Holidays are coming much sooner than most of us are probably ready…. Here is an awesome way to DIY gifts this holiday season, or any other occasion for that matter. And it’s fun!! 

This is what you will need:

*A Black Sharpie 

*A plate or mug from the Dollar Tree 

*Oven preheated to 350 degrees F

This is what you do:

*Decorate!! Have fun with it, and be creative. There aren’t really any rules.

(This activity is also great for kids!)

 *Once you have finished decorating, place in the oven on a baking sheet for 30 minutes

When removed from the oven your masterpiece will not look any different, the heat just ensures your design won’t come off.

YEP, it’s that easy!

Once completed it should be oven, microwave and dishwasher safe 🙂

 

 

 

 

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