Tips For Savvy Christmas Shopping

Getting ready to do some serious Christmas shopping? Before you make up your list and head out the door, check out some tips for savvy shopping---you might find some better values online, and some other helpful information about shopping deals in this article.

Happy Shopping!!

Target 's American Made Toy List

here is Target's List

List Of 500 Toys "Not Made In China"

With all the recalls lately, and Christmas fast approaching, I thought this might be a useful list for parents!

500 Toy List

Dips For Thanksgiving and Holiday Parties

Let's start with a yummy SPINACH DIP.


warm spinach-parmesan dip


Servings: Makes about 3 cups.

Ingredients
2 tablespoons (1/4 stick) butter
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 3/4 cups chopped onion
6 large garlic cloves, minced
2 tablespoons all purpose flour
1/2 cup chicken stock or canned low-salt chicken broth
1/2 cup whipping cream
1 10-ounce package ready-to-use fresh spinach leaves
1 cup (packed) grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup sour cream
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Baguette slices, toasted

Preparation
Melt butter with oil in heavy large pot over medium heat. Add onion and garlic; sauté until onion is tender, about 6 minutes. Add flour; stir 2 minutes. Gradually whisk in stock and cream; bring to boil, whisking constantly. Cook until mixture thickens, stirring frequently, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in spinach, cheese, sour cream and cayenne (spinach will wilt). Season with salt and pepper. Transfer dip to serving bowl. Serve warm with toasted baguette slices.

This recipe is from Bon Appetit, 1999

Christmas Traditions...Do You Need To Start Some?

Simple Christmas Tradition Ideas for Moms
By: Amanda Compton

Christmas traditions are something that we all cherish and remember throughout our lives. Take some time this year and make some new Christmas traditions with your family. I have put together a list of twelve simple Christmas tradition ideas for moms.

1.) Use the 12 days of Christmas theme and give out inexpensive gifts to your kids for each of the twelve days of Christmas.
2.) Put together a family photo Christmas book for each Christmas
3.) Have a special Christmas movie night with Christmas food
4.) Put together Christmas goody bags for your family and friends. Include candy, stickers, and a small craft for each child in the family.
5.) Make a gingerbread house together. Let each person pick out a pack of their favorite candy to decorate the gingerbread house with.
6.) Make your own holiday greeting cards
7.) Go Christmas caroling in your neighborhood at a family member’s home.
8.) Volunteer, sponsor a soldier overseas, or donate good used toys and clothes to less fortunate families.
9.) Make at least one new ornament per person in the family each year to place on the Christmas tree.
10.) Let your child pick out and purchase an inexpensive gift for a child in need.
11.) Make your own garland out of nuts, fruit, greeting cards, popcorn, or candy and hang them on your tree.
12.) Make a favorite Christmas recipe together. Splurge on ingredients for the recipe. Choose something extra tasty even if it is expensive or full of fat.

I hope these twelve simple Christmas tradition ideas bring joy to your family each and every year to come.

Article by:

Amanda Compton is a work at home mom to two young boys, Greyson and Gage. Amanda spends her days raising her two boys and creating mom websites at home in her pajamas. Visit her at www.ContestForMoms.com, a Mom Resource and Contest site featuring a Free Baby Photo Contest, contest and sweepstakes listings exclusively for moms, mommy forums, mom blog and more to support moms.

Easy and Fun Christmas Craft For Kids

Pipe Cleaner Candy Canes

Twist together red and white pipe cleansers to make neatly spaced stripes.
Curl the top into a hook. It should now look like a candy cane!
Take a small piece of ribbon and slip a bead or small ornament on it and tie to candy cane.
Try different colors for candy canes such as Yellow and White, Blue and White, and Green and White.

Christmas Centerpiece Idea

Bleached Pinecones


You Will Need:

Basket
Pinecones
Bleach
Water
Leaves, berries, twigs, etc. for basket

Fill a large container with one part bleach to 4 parts water.
Add pinecones
Place a container of some sort on top of pinecones to keep them submerged in the water /bleach solution.
Let the pinecones sit in the solution for 24 hours.
Remove pinecones and let them drain on paper towels. Let them completely dry.
Soaking in the water and bleach solution may have caused the pinecones to dry up; they’ll open up again as they are drying.

Decorate the basket edge with leaves, garland, cedar sprigs, or whatever you like. Use glue or double sided tape to decorate the edges of the basket.

Place the bleached pinecones inside.