Surviving Christmas

Buying Christmas gifts for women isn't as hard as most men make it out to be. If you want to impress the ladies on your list, then here's what I suggest for:

Intimate Relationships
For wives, fiancées and live in partners, be personal. This is not the time to go out to the local appliance store!! Give her jewelry, her favorite fragrance, something sexy to wear. If you really want to be good, give her all three!

There are certain things you need to know before buying any of the three above-mentioned items. Nothing worse than a wife's face on Christmas morning, when her thoughtful yet uniformed husband presents her with a size 16 burgundy red negligee, when she is actually a size 12 and loves the color purple!

Fellas and partners - first and foremost - know your sizes! If you want to be sneaky, find a similar piece of clothing to what you want to buy, and check the label. Otherwise, start well before the holidays, and simply ask...

You can also be sneaky in the asking: just tell her that (whatever she's wearing) looks so tiny, and she must have dropped a size or two. Generally, you will get the information you are looking for without having to come out and ask outright. BUT - When all else fails. Be direct anyway.

Know your colors, or rather, know what her favorite colors are. What color does she wear most often? (This works for jewelry, too - if she wears a lot of green, hunt down emeralds, aquamarines or green jade!)

Personally, jewelry is one of my favorite standards in Christmas gifts for women. It doesn't fade, stretch or stain. Jewelry will be around forever and can be passed on as heirlooms.

It can also be as personal or impersonal as the occasion and relationship dictate. Normally around the holidays, some incredible sales can be found, too!

To stay on the safe side of the fragrance issue, sneak a peak at the bottle of perfume she is currently wearing. If she has several, either pick the one with the least left in the bottle, or the one you like most. Charming words and a sweet fragrance go a long way.

Friends and Casual Girlfriends
For relationships which are more casual in nature, well-thought out gift baskets are the perfect Christmas gifts for women. There's lots to open, everything centers around a single theme, and they don't need to break the bank.

Plain gold necklaces or earrings (stay AWAY from finger rings!), a pretty sweater, a book in her favorite genre are all great ideas. Be sure, if you get her a book, to get her a nice bookmark to go with it - you can attach it to the ribbon or bow, or put it into the front cover inside the package.

gift baskets of all shapes, kinds and sizes are available during the holidays. You can also make your own. This is my specialty... However, for those who don't want to spend a day or two hunting down the contents for the perfect Christmas gift basket, here are a few hints:

Every department store from Macy's to Wal-Mart has a gift basket aisle, as do specialty stores. Check these first!

Perfect Christmas gifts for women in casual relationships would be:

• Coffee or tea selections
  
• Books
  
• Movies
  
• Fragrance/Lotions
  
• Wine (or hard liquor, or Beer, if she prefers!)

These can generally be found for under $50 and make perfect Christmas gifts.

Co-workers, Bosses, Employees and Acquaintances   Its even easier to find great Christmas gifts for women in this category of friendships. Gift cards are appropriate for this group. Generally, I would try for cards to restaurants or movie theaters, as they are inexpensive, yet thoughtful gifts.

If you know the person more than just to say hello, you might try a card to a store you know they would visit, like a bookstore, or a specific gift shop.

Very small gift baskets of chocolates, or coffees, teas or something similar in nature are also wonderful ideas for Christmas gifts. Stay away from anything remotely personal unless you have a very good reason.
  Christmas Gifts for Mom   "I'm not just any woman - I am your Mother!" Incidentally - this includes mother-in-law, too. Finding super-wonderful Christmas gifts for women in this category will take some creativity.

Mom would probably still rather have something you made, than anything you could buy, but we'll give it a shot...


If Mom is still working, jewelry can be a good buy. If you've got kids of your own, then you can get special rings, necklaces and such with the birthstone of each of the grand-kids.

Sets are good, too - necklace, bracelet and either earrings or a finger ring to match. Sets are usually pretty reasonable during the holidays. A very pretty watch would be a great gift if Mom is still working also.

There are so many styles to choose from, you simply can't go wrong (no stop-watches, guys!!)

Tickets for her and Dad at a dinner theater should be under $150, and provide for a wonderful evening out, a great meal, and if you really want to do it up well, some dinner theaters are in hotels, you can also book them a weekend away.

It is something Mom probably would not splurge on for herself, its thoughtful, and its luxurious!

If your budget won't allow for that, a very inexpensive alternative is to get several of their favorite old movies, some favorite snacks, coffee, tea or wine, and the appropriate cups or glasses, and present her with a home version in the form of a gift basket.

Other Christmas Gifts for Women   Sisters, other women in the family and members of your spouse's family fall into this group.

Depending on the closeness of the relationship, choose gifts for them from the "girlfriend" or "casual" groups and you can't go wrong. You can ask directly, too.

Usually siblings and cousins, if they are on the Christmas list, are open to giving you specific ideas and won't be insulted if you ask.

Teachers, service providers and other women you may want to give "just a little something" to will appreciate items from the casual list as well.

Though some people do, I am not a big fan of "useful" items as main Christmas gifts for women - even my daughter's teacher. She can get those useful items from people who actually ask her what she needs.

Be sure to check other pages in this section for even more ideas! If you want to make your own gift baskets, there will be an entire section just for that. Stocking stuffers have their own page, as do gag gifts.

And, as you go through the year, be sure to put the size, color and favorites information into your Christmas notebook so that you don't have to go back and start over year after year (except to double check if need be)! And one more thing....  

ALWAYS, Always, always be sure to get gift receipts - even for items that aren't worn.

You can either tape them inside the box with the gift, or file them until after the holidays just in case. But even the most wonderful gifts might need to be returned for whatever reason, and this holds especially true with Christmas gifts for women.

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OK guys, here's your chance!! Tell us what is on your own list to give the women in your life this year! Share your comments and suggestions below!

Many Blessings
GrannySue 

These Christmas bread recipes are so simple that you could ask your kids to help and they'd be great at it! It wasn't until very recently that this baker learned how to work with yeast. I've been making muffins, rolls, biscuits and quick-breads for a living for a while now, and saw no need. Until, that is, I went to the store looking for some good french bread.

I haven't put a lot of bread recipes in here that call for yeast, though there are a few. The reason for this is that yeast doughs take time to rise, often twice. Since a part of the reason for this site is to help you save time so you can enjoy the season, I've kept the time-consuming recipes to a bare minimum.

The holidays, though, just wouldn't be the same without the smell of breads baking in the oven. Any of the quick-bread recipes I give here can also be made into muffins. The muffin recipes, however, do not do well in the form of a loaf.

The first bread recipes I have listed are for the quick-breads and muffins, because they are so easy, so versatile, and super tasty. Yeast breads will follow these.

Special Note: For both muffins and quick-breads, it is extremely important not to over mix them. This will result in a very tough end product, more reminiscent of week-old rolls instead of delicious, mouth-watering, tender breads.

Special Note: I have found that if the bread is not quite done yet, it will stick to the pan. So long as it is in no danger of burning (you can tell by looking at where the bread meets the pan on the sides), return it to the oven for 2 to 3 minutes at 325° - that should do it!

Christmas Bread Recipes Currently on this Page:
Brownie Muffins
Cinnamon Bread
Gingerbread Loaves
Lavender Tea Cakes
Pecan Muffins
Snickerdoodle Muffins
French Bread
Whole Wheat Bread


Brownie Muffins
What else should be first in my Christmas bread recipes besides something chocolate? These brownies taste just like their flat cousins, but you can pipe fillings inside, frost them to make them doubly decadent, or even add nuts if you wish! They taste wonderful - and work as well in loaf form as they do as muffins.
Ingredients:  1¾ cups sugar
1½ cups nuts (optional)
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup butter
1 teaspoon vanilla
4 one ounce squares semisweet baker's chocolate
4 large eggs, slightly beaten, room temperature
Melt the chocolate and butter together over low heat, stirring constantly to avoid burning. Stir in the eggs, sugar flour and vanilla. Add nuts and fold in if desired.

Pour batter into WELL-GREASED muffin tins, 8x4 loaf pans, or UN-GREASED muffin tins with liners. Bake at 325° for 30 to 32 minutes.


Cinnamon Bread
The cinnamon bread you buy at the grocery is one of many yeast based bread recipes. I simply don't have time during the holidays to make very many yeast breads. I have created a version of this popular treat to be made as a quick bread. All the flavor and texture, but none of the waiting and worry!

This is a cinnamon swirl bread - also topped with a cinnamon sugar sprinkle. You can add raisins, nuts, or flavors at your will - I particularly like it with about 2 teaspoons of orange zest.

This is one of the best all-around Christmas bread recipes I have, mainly because it can be changed at whim to whatever flavors are called for - yet it has that wonderful cinnamon-bread flavor as its base.


Ingredients:  2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
½ cup butter, softened
1 cup milk, room temperature
2 large eggs, room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon cinnamon
½ cup sugar

In one large bowl, mix together flour, 1 cup sugar, powder and soda. In a separate bowl, cream together the next four ingredients.

Pour the wet into the dry ingredients and beat until just mixed. Its ok if there are lumps - do NOT over-beat!
The batter will resemble a very thick cake batter. Scoop into either (WELL-GREASED) 2 8x4 loaf pans, or 3 ½-loaf pans.

Mix the cinnamon and ½ cup sugar together well, and sprinkle to coat the top thoroughly. Using a knife, fold mixture into batter in spirals, being sure to scrape extras off the sides.

Bake at 350° for 45 minutes, or until bread feels firm to the touch on top, yet sounds rather hollow.

Remove from pans immediately out of the oven and cool on racks.


Gingerbread Loaves
Gingerbread has always been one of the tried and true Christmas bread recipes in our country. Versions of this quick bread were brought from Europe with the very first settlers. My version is probably mid to late 19th century, and has all of the traditional spices in it.

Gingerbread is easy to make, but has a tendency to 'dip' in the middle. To avoid this problem, add more flour, a little at a time, until you get to a very thick consistency. The batter should look like it will pour, but require a ladle to scoop into the loaf pans.

This is one of my best-selling loaves in the winter. If you like gingerbread cookies, you'll absolutely love these soft, chewy loaves! Try some with a little plain cream cheese - it's to-die-for!


Ingredients:  3 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup dark brown sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1¼ teaspoons ground ginger
2 teaspoons ground nutmeg
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground allspice
1 teaspoon ground cloves
¼ teaspoon salt
1 cup butter, softened
2 large eggs, room temperature
1 cup dark full-flavored molasses
1 cup boiling water
Cream together the butter and sugar, add eggs and beat thoroughly. Whisk together the molasses, water and soda.

In another bowl, thoroughly mix the rest of the dry ingredients together, removing all lumps by passing through a strainer if necessary.

Add the wet ingredients to the dry, and fold together just until mixed. If the batter is very liquid, add flour in ½ cups until it is very thick.

If you like nuts or raisins in your gingerbread, now would be the time to fold them in gently.

Scoop into 2 WELL-GREASED 8x4 loaf pans, or muffin tins, and bake at 350° for 30 to 35 minutes, or until done.


Lavender Tea Cakes
Here is an unusual twist in Christmas bread recipes! Lavender is a wonderful and under-used herb that is great for baking with. It has a light yet peppery flavor, and goes very well with vanilla. Try some of these for a unique treat this holiday season!


Ingredients:  1 cup sugar
5 tablespoons butter, softened
1 cup plain yogurt
½ teaspoon vanilla
1 large egg
1 large egg white
1¾ cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
¼ teaspoon baking soda
¼ teaspoon salt

2 tablespoons fresh lavender flowers
OR
(½ this amount of dried - organic (tea grade) lavender)
With a mixer, cream together butter and sugar. Add vanilla. Then add egg and egg white slowly. Slowly add mixed dry ingredients except lavender, and alternate with the yogurt. Remove from mixer and fold in the flowers.

Pour batter into a WELL-GREASED 8x4 loaf pan, and bake at 350° for 50 minutes to 1 hour, or until done. To test, insert toothpick to middle of loaf. If it comes out clean, the loaf is finished.

There is a glaze for this, listed on our Toppings page.


Pecan Muffins
This is another of the versatile bread recipes. You can add a cup of chopped apples, raisins, or other fruit - even candied fruits that you find at stores during the holidays. Each variation will be as delicious as the basic recipe!

This is also one of the bread recipes that is as good in loaves as it is for muffins. The loaves will be plump and moist, and are easily sliced. Try it toasted with a little unsalted butter melted on top - mmmm!!


Ingredients:  3 tablespoons butter
½ cup all-purpose flour
½ cup sugar
½ cup light brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup pecans, chopped
Cream together sugar and butter, then mix in vanilla and eggs well. Mix all dry ingredients. Add butter mixture and stir well.

Bake in WELL-GREASED loaf or muffin pan at 350° for 25 minutes, or until golden on top.


Snickerdoodle Muffins
This is one of those muffins that doesn't do overly well as a loaf. But, as with all my Christmas bread recipes, you are free to try if you wish!

Ingredients:  3 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups quick-cooking oats, uncooked
1 cups sugar
2 tablespoons baking powder
2 cups milk
2 large eggs
1 stick butter
2 teaspoons vanilla

1 cup sugar
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

Prepare the cinnamon sugar topping, and set aside.

Combine all dry ingredients into a bowl, and stir until thoroughly mixed. In a second bowl, cream butter and sugar together, add eggs one at a time. Mix in the milk and add vanilla. Stir well.

Combine the wet ingredients into the dry, and stir well. Let sit for 5 minutes, then pour into WELL GREASED muffin tins. Fill cups to 2/3 full. Sprinkle on topping liberally.

Bake at 350° for 20 to 25 minutes.

Cool for about five minutes before removing from pans. Makes about 3 dozen muffins.

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Moving on to Yeast Based Christmas Bread Recipes _____________________________________

Yeast bread recipes are not as hard as I once thought. They require time to rise, and a few sturdy arm muscles, but, that said, there is nothing quite like the aroma and taste of freshly baked bread!

With yeast bread recipes, there is generally a range of amounts given for the flour. The reason for this is that these breads are affected by humidity. You want the dough to be smooth and elastic in a relatively short amount of time. Therefore, if it is raining out, you will need more flour to make it so.

Always begin with the smaller of the two amounts, and gradually add as needed until you reach the upper limit stated in the recipe.

Special Note: One more important note about bread recipes in general - always be sure that all ingredients are at room temperature before beginning the recipe. Extremes of temperature can ruin the best of bread recipes!!

These Christmas bread recipes come from Mom's cookbook (where else??) and are the ones she suggested I start with years ago. Had I listened, my family would have been eating a lot more fresh bread over the years!

French Bread for Christmas

One of the easiest and most popular bread recipes for beginners, and a favorite of 'old hands' as well. French bread has many uses in the kitchen and makes a great, thick sandwich.

If you are new to bread baking, but want to give it a try, this is one of the best bread recipes to start with.

Ingredients:    1 package active dry yeast
2 cups warm water (about 110°)
6 to 6½ cups bread flour OR all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon salt
1 large egg white mixed with
1 teaspoon tap water

Dissolve the yeast in ¼ cup warm water and allow to stand for 3 to 5 minutes, until small bubbles begin to appear on the surface. (You can add just a tiny pinch of sugar if you want to speed this up - it's the best method I know to make sure your yeast is alive and active.)

Combine the flour and salt well. Add half the flour and the remaining liquid to the dissolved yeast and beat well. Gradually add the rest of the flour.

Toss this onto a floured board and knead until smooth and elastic (this can take a while!). An alternate method would be to use a mixer with a dough hook attachment.

Put this dough into a GREASED bowl, cover with a clean towel, and let rise until doubled in bulk.

Punch the dough down and divide in half, shaping as a long, narrow loaf, just like the store-bought kind. Place each loaf on a GREASED cookie sheet.

Using a sharp knife, cut a 1/8 inch deep slit down the middle of each. Cover again, and let rise to double.

Heat your oven to 400°. Brush the top of each loaf with the egg-white and water mixture. Bake for 15 minutes.

Lower the oven temperature to 350° and continue baking until crisp and well browned - about another 30 minutes. You will know this bread is done if it sounds hollow when you tap on the top.

Christmas Whole Wheat Bread
When people think of healthy, tasty bread recipes, whole wheat is usually first on their minds. I love the sweet, nutty flavor of wheat breads in general, but this is one of my new favorite Christmas bread recipes! And again, if you would rather mix than knead, its up to you!

Ingredients:   1 package active dry yeast
¼ cup warm water (about 110°)
2 tablespoons honey or dark brown sugar (1 more to taste if wanted)
1 cup boiling water
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 tablespoon salt
3 to 4 cups UNsifted whole wheat flour
½ mace (optional)

Put the yeast, warm water and sweetening into a small bowl until frothy. Add the hot water to the butter and salt, and when it cools to lukewarm, combine it with the yeast mixture.

Mix together the flour and spice, if used, then pour the liquid ingredients into this mixture. Beat together until thoroughly mixed, and then an additional 2 to 3 minutes. You want the dough to be smooth and elastic, not sticky (too wet, will dip in center when baked) not stretchy (too dry, will crack in oven).

Set this bowl into another bowl of hot water, and cover with a towel. In about an hour, it will have doubled in size. Beat again for another 3 minutes. It should be light and spongy. If its tough to beat, add warm water by the tablespoon-ful until its the right consistency.

Place the dough into a GREASED loaf pan, set this inside of a pan of warm water, cover with a towel and let rise another 45 minutes. Dough should be rounding over the top of the pan.

Put the bread in a cold oven. Set for 400° and bake for 15 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 325° and bake for another 35 minutes. When done, turn out onto a rack and cover with a towel to cool.

Raisins, chopped fruit, nuts or whole grain berries may be added to this recipe for variation. Use 1 cup of which-ever you would prefer.

If you add anything to the dough, do so before it is beaten.

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Again, please post any suggestions or recipes in the comments section below! Hints and tips for yeast breads are ESPECIALLY appreciated by Granny, lol (HINT!)

Many Blessings

GrannySue

There must be thousands of different special Christmas beverage recipes floating around for punch, cocoa and such. I only know this because this is one of the more sparse sections of my personal Christmas cookbook, so I have had to go looking. I have looked high and low, and tried every one of the following - if I didn't like it, it didn't get here.

All of the Christmas beverage recipes listed on this page are family friendly. There is no alcohol, no fancy shmancy stuff. Just great drinks that are easy to make, and sure to please every member of the family. Kids will love them, so will the adults.

If there are one or two adults that would like to jazz them up, several would welcome more adult content in the form of alcohol, but they can add their own. As for caffeine, if that is an 'adults only' substance at your house, there are indeed recipes here that call for black tea or coffee, so simply skip over those, or make something else special for the kids!

None of these beverage recipes requires any special machinery, either. You don't need the espresso maker, or anything like that, the most you need is a blender.

So, without further ado, quench your thirst with one of these great beverage recipes!

Beverage Recipes Currently on this Page:
Basic Hot Cocoa
Easy Ades
Homemade Fruit Syrups
Christmas Punch

Basic Hot Cocoa
Hot cocoa and winter go together. Its really simple to make with chocolate syrup or powdered mix, but here's a quick and easy way to step up the flavor a bit. All Christmas beverage recipes should be fast and easy - that way you'll make them more often!

Ingredients:  1 cup milk
2 teaspoons Cocoa
1¾ - 2 teaspoons sugar
1 cup boiling water
½ teaspoon vanilla
First, scald the milk in a small sauce pan.

In a second pot, combine cocoa, sugar and water, and bring to a boil. Add this mixture to the scalded milk, then add the vanilla.

YUP!! It IS that simple!

You can replace the vanilla with peppermint and put a candy cane in as a stirrer for a special Christmas presentation. Just about any flavoring that goes with chocolate (is there one that doesn't??) will work beautifully - all you have to do is remember to add the flavor after the pot is off of the heat.


Easy Ades
When a person thinks of an ade, generally lemon or lime come to mind. Beverage recipes abound for ades, and here is a basic recipe that will adapt itself to many different fruits. Try a little something different with one of these ideas for delicious ades!

The Christmas beverage recipes below make ½ gallon of ade. Adjust to suit your needs, and remember, sugar is to taste, so start with the lower amount and work your way up to perfection!

Ingredients:  1 pint fruit juice
4 - 5 tablespoons sugar
4 pints water
Ingredients:  1 pint fruit syrup (see below)
4 pints water
Ades are never cooked. In fact, using ice-cold-water speeds up the process and keeps the ade from getting watered down if its needed immediately - no need for added water in the form of ice cubes. If using ice, put the cubes in the pitcher, and fill to the 4 pint/½ gallon mark - don't fill with water and then add ice.

Any fruit can be used - raspberries, currants, strawberries and blueberries make a refreshing change from lemons, limes and oranges.

Homemade Fruit Syrups
Before freezers and refrigeration in general, people needed something to do to keep perishable fruit crops from spoiling before they could be consumed. In addition to pickles and jams, fruit syrups were quite common on the old homestead.

Fruit syrups have many uses, including in Christmas beverage recipes. They can also be used in fillings, toppings, and a host of other goodies.

Sugar is a wonderful preservative. The recipe below is generic - can be used for any fruit. Because of this, there is a sparse amount of sugar in it - to accommodate the sweeter fruits.

Remember two things when making fruit syrups: First, the less sugar used, the shorter the life-span of the syrup. Second, sweeten only to taste. It does no good to make a very sugary syrup that no one in the family will drink!

Ingredients:  2 parts fruit juice
1 part sugar
While you can heat the juice to speed the dissolving of the sugar, it is not necessary. Keeping the juice at room temperature or colder takes a little longer, but none of the nutrients in the fruit are destroyed by heating that way.

Christmas Punch (no alcohol)
What's a party without a punch to drink? There must be millions of Christmas beverage recipes for punch out there. Here is a very basic one with a couple variations. This is a family friendly punch, but feel free (if all the guests are adults) to add your favorite spirits or liqueurs to it!

Ingredients:  1 cup sugar
1 quart water
½ cup lemon juice
1 cup orange juic

 zest of ½ orange
zest of 1 lemon

1 quart sparkling water
Cook the sugar and water together, stirring constantly for 5 minutes. Cool completely, add the rest of the ingredients except the sparkling water, and chill. Add the sparkling water just before serving.

To add variety to this very basic punch, try the following variations:

add:
1 cup crushed pineapple

1 pint of raspberry, strawberry, pomegranate or blueberry juice

1 quart grape or blackberry juice

¼ cup preserved chopped ginger root and 1 quart ginger ale instead of the sparkling water
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You are most definitely invited post any recipes or questions you'd like to share in the comments below - or - if you'd like to share a story with your recipe and/or trade links, simply contact me and we'll git er done!

Many Blessings
GrannySue

Ebates is another great place to earn cash back for your Christmas shopping! During the Black Friday weekend they are offering double cash back bonuses for many stores in their program.

Basically, you shop at your choice of store through their portal, and you will get between 1.5% and 6% back generally. Some places like Dish Network are offering $100 cash back. Some stores only offer discount codes, but those can be more than 20%. Some also offer coupons.


There are literally hundreds of stores (1600 at last count!) to shop at from Bath and Body Works to Macy's, Mattel and even Zale's! Travelocity is also listed. You name it, this site offers it.




Just like MyPoints, Ebates can save you money on gifts and everyday purchases year round. Unlike other programs, the program is all about shopping and coupons.


You can search by product, coupons available, and their list of participating stores.


They also work with Amazon and Groupon.


Ebates is free to join, and unlike many other sites, there is no introductory survey where they want tons of details. You simply sign up and start shopping. You can save favorite stores inside your member area, and you can also promote the site to earn cash rewards.




Ebates allows you to cash out with as little as $5.01 in your account. However, they only pay quarterly, so its wise to build up that balance before requesting a payment. The most common methods of payment are via check or PayPal.


One thing I am not fond of is that if you allow your account to be inactive for a period longer than a year, they will debit your account (not your bank, just your Ebates balance) $2.00 per month to cover administration costs.


While this shouldn't be a problem, I wonder why it is that this is specifically spelled out in their Terms and Conditions! Since I only recently joined, I wonder how many people this happens to.

They do also state that your account will never go into the negative. If it gets to $0.00 and you still haven't been active, they simply delete your information.


I haven't been a member here long enough to say whether or not this will be one of my top programs. I've been watching the blog and other people's reactions to the site, though, and so I do trust them.


Once again, I'd be honored if you would join the program through my link.

Ebates

Here's the affiliate details:


Joining their affiliate program is automatic – you have access to a link to promote the site (go to the bottom left side of the page in the dark green section, and click on the “Affiliates” link in the bottom left-hand column – it takes you straight to the page where you can send emails and pick up your link.


There is a special promotion going on for the holidays where you can earn bonuses for each member you refer after the first.


They make it really easy to tweet and post to facebook, too. That's nice... Some sites disregard these sites, and they are great for getting referrals!


Caveat – in order to earn your commission and bonus rewards for referrals, the new members must purchase at least $25 through the ebates site (at any store) within the first 90 days.

Many Blessings
GrannySue

Again, if you have something you'd like to share or ask about this program, please do post!  

The first program I am going to mention is MyPoints.com.


This site offers you a means to earn points for doing some things you do every day. You earn points by clicking a special link in emails they send you (5 points per email opened). Each of these offers allows you to earn even more points by taking advantage of a free trial, making a donation to your favorite charity, signing up for an online newsletter or purchasing their product.


You get the basic points whether you take advantage of the offer or not.

They offer surveys, too. You will earn 10 points when you click through to the survey – even if you don't qualify to take that survey! You will earn between 50 and 200 points for each survey you complete, as well.


You can also earn points by taking advantage of free and low-cost trial offers for goods and services, by playing online games (poker, slots, and a host of others), using their search engine when you surf online, doing simple (really – no-brainer type) tasks, listening to online radio and more.




You also earn points for shopping at your favorite stores through their site!! Of course, this applies all year, not just now, but this IS a Christmas site, after all!!


For instance, if you use the MyPoints site to shop at Wal-mart (you can schedule pick-up or have your order shipped to your house, sometimes for free), you will earn 8 points for every dollar you spend. Sometimes during special sales they offer 10 points per dollar.


Some of the places you can shop in addition to Wal-Mart are: Land's End, Barnes and Noble, Old Navy, Amazon and more.




MyPoints is free to join. You earn points for everything you do, and these are redeemable for rewards cards. Many of the stores you can shop at for cash back also offer their rewards cards through this program.


I usually opt for the Barnes cards, because I love to read, but I've also traded my points for cards to Red Lobsters, Outback Steakhouse and Chili's.


There are nearly 100 different cards you can choose from.


If you need money more than books, clothes or a night out, they also offer a VISA card.




You can get a reward card starting with as little as 1600 points. Given the way the program works, I have never done a trial offer or any other paid action, and still have gotten more than 5 cards.


MyPoints will send between 2 and 10 points emails per day. You choose whether or not to get the emails, and you choose whether you just want the 5-pointers (offers) or whether to get survey offers as well. I get them all, and it takes me about 2 minutes to click through on everything – 5 if I decide to try for the surveys.


You will not get the 10 points for the surveys that you don't qualify for just by opening the emails, you actually have to go through the (very short!) qualification process. Of course, if you do qualify, you can still choose to end it there and take your 10 points - or go on for the full points value – but you do have to go that far.


Being a member of several other sites that offer trials and other offers, I would trust the MyPoints system with these. I have not done any offers there that I can remember. But if you do these, be sure to read the FAQ about it. I write about this on another blog (GrannySue's Get Cash Now).


The offers are easy, but you have to keep track and you have to be sure that you know the details so that in the event you need to cancel, you have that information handy.




Like I said – I don't remember ever doing any cash offers at MyPoints. However, I have earned more than 30,000 points basically doing nothing. I've gotten more than $100 worth of rewards cards.


Just opening emails and surveys you can easily earn at least one $25 gift card each year.


However – with the holidays upon us, and retailers offering everything from 5 to 12 points per dollar to use this site to shop, well, you can see where that will lead!!


Plus, if you get into the habit of shopping your favorite retailers through MyPoints, you can earn and use those points all year round! This can be a MAJOR budget saver, and is a great way to do your Christmas (and much of your other) shopping!




I would be both honored and grateful if you would use my link should you decide to join this program!!


I am currently a pending affiliate for this program, so I will not be receiving any commissions from the site if you join now. Once I am approved, I will receive $1.00 for everyone that joins through that link.


However, if you request an email from me (NO AUTO-RESPONDERS – you have to sign up for that once I get it ready!), I will send you a link. I will not keep your email address.


If I send you an email directly from the site, they still do not have access to your address unless you sign up. I will get points if you join from that email.

Many Blessings
GrannySue

Remember to post a comment to let me know about your experiences with this program or to ask any questions you might have! I'm always here to help and can always use suggestions!  

I find that creating memorable Christmas gifts for men on my list is much easier than buying for women. Men tend to wear their likes and dislikes right out in the open, and are not afraid to talk about them. Not only that, but they do not bother to hide things like their cologne bottles, and such like. Its usually obvious to anyone that goes anywhere with them whether or not their leather goods need replacing as well!

Unique gifts are a creative thought away, and even the old stand-bys can be made memorable with just a few dollars and a few moments' time.

Intimate Relationships
For husbands and lovers, finding the perfect Christmas gift is a matter of gaining access to three places... his bedroom closet, his dresser or medicine cabinet, and the garage. If these three places do not provide all the information you would need, he is an unusual male indeed!

Another hint is to listen especially close in the period between the end of summer and the holiday season. If you pay close attention, he will probably tell you (perhaps in so many words) just what the perfect gift would be - and you'll probably gain more details than you thought possible!

That said, you'll find all the size information, fragrance suggestions and jewelry ideas you need in the three places mentioned, but don't stop just there.

If it is fragrance products you want to buy, which types does he already own, and what fragrances are they? Does he shave? If so, there are gift boxes that contain several items all of the same scent, such as soaps, after-shave and shaving cream as well as cologne. Sometimes collectibles like a decorated special addition keyring or pocket knife are also included.

Christmas gifts for men you are intimate with can also include jewelry, if he wears it. Be on the lookout for his favorite tie tack, cuff-links or other items which may be missing a mate, or have lost a stone. Replacing them is not only thoughtful, but romantic as well. If they are heirlooms, repair and cleaning are in order. If he wears necklaces or rings, be sure to measure to get the size right, and find something he's had his eye on for a while.

One note of caution - though many men are flattered and appreciative, if you intend to get him something super sexy to wear, be sure to schedule private time for the opening of the gift. I have found men to be far more easily embarrassed over gifts of this nature than women, and he will appreciate the privacy.

Male Friends and Boyfriends
This is probably the simplest category of Christmas gifts for men! You know him well enough to know what he reads, what sports he likes, what cars he likes, and what he needs. Gifts in this category make great "extras" for the hubbies, too!

Here's where the old cliche gifts work really well:

Wallets - Sure, go ahead and pick one up, but throw in a couple new twists to make this a unique and appreciated gift he'll remember. Get a photo of yourself, and a few of his close friends, and fill up that photo keeper. Tuck a lottery ticket or two into the cash pocket. Give him a few quarters in the change section and maybe a pair of movie tickets or a gift card in the credit card holders. Be sure to get a matching key ring that you can attach to the ribbon after its wrapped.

Belts - Why not get a nice pair of slacks or a pair of jeans to go with the belt? You can also get a small selection of extra buckles to go with it - or match it to the wallet and key ring. If he's into building things, get him a couple utility hangers for it, too.

Ties - Be sure to get top quality, preferably silk ties. Get a couple matching tie-tacks or clips to go with it. You can get a small selection of cheaper ties, each with a clip, and bundle them with matching color socks (or sexy underwear) too -

If he's into his car, create your own gift basket with items he can use to spruce it up! If he's into cars in general, try building a gift around a book about his favorite make or model, and including a model kit he can build till he gets the real thing. You can get a key blank at the local hardware store to tie on the outside with the ribbon, too.

Sports fans are super easy - team logos can be found on everything from stadium blankets to umbrellas, shot glasses to bar-ware, baseball caps, books and posters are available for his favorites. Collector cards are another option. Biographies or stat books are good, too. If you can afford it, try to tuck in a pair of tickets to a local event!

Co-workers, Bosses, Employees and Acquaintances
Small gift baskets are perfect Christmas gifts for men in this category. There are literally hundreds of types to choose from, or you can create your own! You probably know him well enough to know if he drinks tea or coffee, if he lives alone and might like a meal in a basket, if he likes candy or snacks. Any one of these would make a perfect little gift basket that is inexpensive but will be remembered.

Candy is usually a safe bet, and there are plenty of boxes available to choose from, but why not make him some homemade cookies and candies yourself? A small personal tray is a great gift for men or women, for people you know well, or hardly at all, and even works for the postman!

People at work can always use something to spruce up their cubicle - anything from a nice picture frame for them to include family photos, to a desk blotter or pen set is a great gift and doesn't have to cost a fortune.

Gifts for Dad
Dads can be rather difficult, but you want to be sure to give something he will remember. Tickets to see his favorite team play (If you're in Chicago, the Cubs/Cardinals game, or Cross-town Classic or Bears/Greenbay tickets are usually ideal!) are usually a good bet. Get him a fabric cooler to take with him, too, and stock it with a jar of nuts, a bag of pretzels, a couple beers and a pennant or baseball cap to wear to the game. (Even if he can't take them to the park, he can use the extras when he's watching from home!

Try to facilitate him doing something he's always wanted to do... One of my friends bought her Dad a package of three flying lessons at the local county airport. While nowhere near enough to get him his license, it was enough to get him up in the air. Since he would never have spent the money to get started, it was the perfect gift, which did lead him to continue his education and eventually get his license.

Another idea along those lines is to help him do something he used to do when he was younger, but hasn't been able to do in a long time... Tickets to a local ski lift, perhaps (or if you have the funds, a weekend in Aspen!), some camping gear and a year pass to a campground, fishing equipment and a license (again, if you have the funds, a weekend trip to fish for his favorite species), and the list goes on.

If he likes fancy evenings out with Mom, so much the better - get them a weekend away to do their favorite activity together - a couple nights in Chicago and museum passes, a night or two in St. Louis and dinner for two on a paddle-wheeler, a casino package, a weekend in Branson with show tickets - whatever they love to do together.

I know... You are thinking I'm off my nut and these things are way over budget. Think again... You can do a search online, and probably find any of the four for under $200. If this is a gift for both parents from you and a spouse, that is quite reasonable. You would probably both spend at least $50 each on each of them anyway - so why not make it memorable!

Other Christmas Gifts for Men
As I said before - "useful" gifts are not really my style. However - when it comes to men, they tend to be a bit harder to insult than women are - another thing that makes finding the perfect Christmas gift for men much easier.

If he likes to cook, go ahead and get him kitchen gadgets, cookbooks, or a specialty pot or pan - he'll love it! Women would be in tears depending on who gave these items to them... If he likes to read, get him the latest book by his favorite author. If he loves to "putz around" the house, hand tools, assorted screws, bolts and nails, and picture hanging kits are perfect.

Men also appreciate a bottle of their favorite drink, too - whether its Maker's Mark, Killian's or Point Rootbeer. A nifty and appropriate glass or mug to drink it from rounds out the gift.

Movie passes, and gift cards to specialty stores are well-received and truly appreciated.

Depending on the circumstances and relationship, something as simple as a nice card and a single flower make good gifts also.

Does he like popcorn? Get him an air popper, or a fancy kit with a stove-top pot for popping, a bottle of good oil and a jar of blue- or red-kernel popping corn! He'll chuckle (this is a GOOD thing!), and he'll use them.

Finding the best Christmas gifts for men is limited only by your budget and your imagination. Spend a little time getting creative, and he'll always remember.

And one more thing.... ALWAYS, Always, always be sure to get gift receipts - even for items that aren't worn. You can either tape them inside the box with the gift, or file them until after the holidays just in case. But - even the most wonderful Christmas gifts might need to be returned for whatever reason.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

As always, I would love to hear some of your favorite gift ideas for the guys! Please take the time to post a comment below and let us know what's on your giving list this year!

Many Blessings
GrannySue 

Christmas shopping can be a significant financial burden for many. This is especially true for those who have a large family or a large group of friends who regularly exchange Christmas gifts.

Christmas shopping can also be a financial problem for those who feel compelled to purchase expensive gifts. However, there are ways to deal with the financial burden which often results from Christmas shopping.


One of the ways to financial issues is to set a budget beforehand. Another way to deal with the financial stress of Christmas shopping is to shop throughout the year, rather than all at once.

This article will discuss the importance of setting a budget for Christmas shopping as well as how Christmas shopping can become less financially taxing by spreading out the Christmas shopping throughout the year.


It should go without saying, that in order to begin the process of setting a budget for your Christmas shopping, it is important to first create a list of all the people you intend to buy Christmas presents for.

Your list should include all of the close friends and family members you typically purchase gifts for as well as any co-workers or employees you normally purchase gifts for, your mail carrier and/or your children’s teachers. Include a small amount for unexpected visitors, hostess gifts, and little "extras" you might need or want to have on hand. You may also wish to budget for gifts donated to toy drives organized by charitable organizations if you typically contribute during these events. And - don't forget stocking stuffers!!! These "little" items can run a fortune...


Once you have your list of gift recipients and potential gifts, there are a couple of ways to go about establishing a budget. Perhaps the simplest way is to decide how much you plan to spend on Christmas shopping and divide this amount by the number of people on your list. This type of budget strategy may be appropriate if you plan on purchasing similar gifts for everyone on your Christmas list but it may not work out too well if you want to purchase something really special for a few of your closest friends or relatives.


Another strategy for establishing a Christmas shopping budget is to determine how much money you would like to spend on each person. Then you can use these numbers to determine the total amount of money you will spend. It might help to create categories (kids, friends, business associates, etc), set a dollar amount for each category, and then work up numbers from there.

In this day of work related relocation and retirement to warm climates away from where we grew up and raised our kids, many of us find we are Christmas shopping for friends and relatives who are out of town. This is a sad fact of life which makes it more difficult to stay in touch and also greatly complicates the Christmas shopping process.


The financial cost and the hassle of shipping gifts is one of the most obvious problems in this scenario. Items which are large, heavy or fragile can be difficult to ship. For example you may find a beautiful crystal vase that you know your Aunt in California will love but you may be hesitant to buy it because you are afraid it will be lost or damaged during shipping.

One solution to that problem is to purchase the gift on-line, from a retailer that is closer to your Aunt than you do, or purchase the item with a guarantee so that if it is lost or damaged in any way, it will be replaced at no cost to you.


Another problem associated with Christmas shopping for out of town relatives is you may have a great deal of difficulty selecting gifts for these relatives. You may have been very close with the relative when they lived nearby but distance can make it difficult to stay in touch and can result in emotional distance between you and your far away relatives. You may be unaware of her current hobbies and interests which can make it difficult to select a personalized gift she will really appreciate.



Opting for more generic items such as sweaters or scented bath soaps and candles is one way to deal with this problem. Another suggestion would be to get them a card and gift certificate for something the two of you used to do together, or something you know they've always enjoyed (Barnes and Noble for an avid reader, a local (to them!) garden center for gardeners, etc)


Even purchasing items for the home can be difficult when it comes to out of town relatives. You may see a throw pillow or a vase you think your sister will absolutely love and which would match her living room perfectly, but you may be unaware that she has redecorated the living room! This may seem like a big detail but even if you have kept in contact she may have forgotten to mention she had redecorated. This can make purchasing home related items for out of town relatives quite difficult.


You can help to alleviate this problem by including a gift receipt with the gift when you ship it to your relative. This makes it easier for them to return the item if it does not match their decor and purchase a more suitable item. They will appreciate the gesture of your gift as well as your thoughtfulness.



For my own out of town relatives, I usually hand make or purchase a Christmas ornament each year and send baked goods or candy. Something home-made or personalized (such as the cute hair-dryer ornament I found at Sally's one year for my Aunt who is a stylist), and a bit of Christmas cheer in the form of cheeses, sausages, cookies or candy) is both thoughtful and appropriate for most. Parents and children, as well as others who are very close should be shopped for as if they were with you.


Your biggest consideration in Christmas shopping for out of towners is the shipping time. Despite promises of "order as late as December 22 for Christmas delivery" - I never wait that long. If shipping food items that are perishable (cookies, for instance), give about 5 days lead time, or ship priority and give 3 days. For all other items, ship them at least a week before Christmas - especially if using USPS. Their promises do not hold during the overwhelming demands of Christmas holidays.






Mark it on your calendar now!


Many Blessings
GrannySue

Often, if you work in an office, you're going to be faced with buying for the grab bag every Christmas. There are a few strategies for making selecting a Christmas gift for this occasion fairly simple.

First, and for obvious reasons, you want to stay fairly generic. Unless there is a mechanism for selecting gender, this is your best bet. For totally unstructured grab bag gifts, stick with items like pen sets, plain photo frames, gift cards and the like. You can get these items within the price range of the grab bag, and virtually anyone would be happy with them.

Make sure the item you choose will hold up well to being tossed into a large bag and shuffled around! For that reason, if you give a frame, be sure it has a plastic window rather than glass. Easily breakable items are off limits, as are those with points or sharp edges!! Items with small parts can be given, provided they are well packaged so they don't lose parts along the way.


Food items are generally not a good idea - especially home-made ones. Brick cheeses are... well... cheesy. Candy might work, but packaging can often be a bit flimsy. Save these for co-workers' personal gifts. Home-made items like cookies are going to break while being jostled around - if they even make it into the office in one piece. It is hard to package these items so that packaging will hold up, too.

Still others who are Christmas shopping for a grab bag gift might consider purchasing a joke gift and including a gift receipt along with the item so the participant can exchange the item for something they would prefer. For example you might want to purchase a CD or DVD to contribute to the grab bag but selecting a CD or DVD which will be appreciated by all the participants and which the participants do not already own can be difficult.


However, it might be fun to purchase a CD from an artist most people would be embarrassed to own or a DVD for a cheesy movie and include the gift receipt so the recipient can return the embarrassing CD or DVD for a CD or DVD they really like. All of the participants will get a laugh out of seeing the embarrassing gift and the participant gets to return the gift so everyone wins in this situation.

I might do something like that, but gag gifts can backfire if you're not careful, or if you have a sense of humor your co-workers don't appreciate to begin with...


Finally, you can give one home-made item that would be appreciated by most people - especially if you are generally friendly with everyone that will be involved in the grab bag, or if you don't know many people and want a way to get to know your co-workers. Homemade ornaments are a wonderful grab bag gift! You can also print out a blank gift certificate on your computer, and use it to give the gift of a free lunch to the person that pulls your gift. I have done that to great success on several jobs.

If you go this route - remember two things: First, you either have to like and be liked by everyone involved, OR you have to be willing to meet new people. Second, you will become known as the "creative" one in the office, and in certain situations this can become a drawback. You will be the idea-go-to-person for everyone that thought your gift was "clever."

Many Blessings,
GrannySue

PS: Don't forget to leave a comment - your hints, tips and suggestions are always appreciated!! 

An unfortunate reality is that many people live quite far away from many of their relatives. Relatives may live thousands of miles away but they are still people you love and care about - and Christmas is an excellent time to express your love for them by sending them a Christmas gift. However, despite your best intentions, it is often difficult to Christmas shop for a distant relative.

One way to make it easier to Christmas shop for a distant relative is to call them to catch up before you do your shopping. Just giving them a quick phone call can provide you with a great deal of insight into their life. Obviously, its a good idea to make a call like this anyway, just to keep in touch, but it can also help you out a great deal with your Christmas shopping.

You might learn a great deal during this phone conversation: activities your relative is involved in, leisure activities they enjoy, new hobbies, life situations. All of this information can make it easier for you to select an appropriate Christmas gift. You might also consider asking your relative what they might want for Christmas. This may take away the element of surprise but it will ensure you are purchasing something your relative really wants.


Another option to consider is purchasing a gift certificate. This may not be the most exciting gift but it is one that is sure to be appreciated. A simple conversation will tell you whether a card for the local bookstore, a favorite restaurant, a movie or something else would be most appreciated.

If you intend to visit that relative over the holidays, it might be wise to either keep the gift small enough to put in the suitcase (and if you are flying, don't forget to bring paper as you won't want to wrap it in case of a search), or ship it before you leave. Often, shipping is the least expensive and most sure method for long distances - especially if crossing an ocean.


If you are shipping, you want to be sure it arrives at an appropriate time... You want it there after you arrive but before Christmas if you are going to be there. If you are simply shipping, you want it there a few days before the holiday. Remember, there will be a lead time during the holiday season, so figure out the day, and then ship a day or two earlier than it would normally take.

For expensive gifts, consider both tracking and insurance. While its not necessarily a good thing to require a signature for delivery, insurance and tracking don't require someone be home to answer the door. These are relatively inexpensive additions to your shipping bill, but the peace of mind is well worth the consideration - especially since you are already paying the actual shipping cost already. A few more pennies will not hurt the budget much.

The Christmas cactus, also known as Orchid Cactus, is a great Christmas gift idea. Its a popular, winter-flowering houseplant native to Brazil.

These are "succulent" plants, preferring dry feet, but moist air. They are native to the rain forest, and so require a bit more moisture than their cacti cousins and other desert-dwelling succulents.

Blooms come in a range of colors from purple and magenta to pink, orange, cream and white.

This particular species blooms in winter, while its relatives, such as the Thanksgiving cactus and the Easter cactus, bloom in fall and spring respectively.

Christmas cactus have been kept as houseplants since at least the 1800's. They are usually available in bud or bloom from late October thru December. They can be found in a variety of tabletop sizes as well as in hanging baskets.

To keep your Christmas cactus looking its best, be sure to keep it in a cool, bright area, but out of direct sunlight. Do not place this plant near heat sources, vents or drafts.

Water it when the top inch or so of soil is dry to the touch, but do not let it stand in water, as this plant will drop its blooms and wilt.

These plants are easy to keep throughout the year, and can be encouraged to grow by pinching off the outer two or three stem segments after the flowers have faded.

Only pinch off one section if it happened to flower on a short stem.

Fertilize about once every three to four months with a 20-20-20 fertilizer, and be sure to stop from October until after the blooming cycle.

60 to 80 degrees is ideal, but for blooming the following year, a period of increasing darkness or cool temperatures is required.

You can keep them to natural daylight hours if you keep the temperature between 50 and 60 degrees 24/7 starting in early November. Otherwise, they need increasing darkness, culminating at 12 hours per day, starting in mid-October.

If one or both of these situations is developed, the Christmas cactus should be in full bloom by the holidays.

Breakfast in Bed: On a sturdy decorated serving tray with high sides, or in a picnic basket, put together bagged pancake mix, a couple flavored syrups, a bag of powdered sugar, some sample sized jellies, coffee or tea, and appropriate cups.

You can also include specialty cooking shapes for eggs and pancakes (these can be specialty items, or cookie cutters with no sharp angles).

Gardener's Basket: Include decorative plant markers, seeds, garden gloves, small hand tools, and perhaps a book on the gardener's favorite kinds of plants (flowers, veggies, houseplants, etc).

Put in a nice bar of soothing oatmeal or milk and honey soap, too - they'll love you for it! If you're doing a basket for someone who loves houseplants, check out department and home improvement stores for a small plant to tuck in at the last minute.

Good containers would be terra cotta pots, decorator indoor plant pots, or a harvest basket.

Golfer's Basket: Tees, ball markers, club covers, golf balls (go figure!), golfer's hand towels, a water bottle in a holder with a strap for hanging on the bag, leather cleaner, and a tape or DVD on techniques would make a great basket for the avid golfer in your life.

Be sure to include a pair of sunglasses for a laugh! Folding six-pack coolers make great containers.

Fisherman's Basket: A small selection of lures, packages of hooks and weights, bobbins, line, and snips are great starters. Add to these jars of bait, rubber worms and maybe a nice fly or two.

Additional items could be sunglasses and sunscreen, and a small book about "fishing jokes." Containers could be a tackle box, a cooler, or a small boat-shaped basket.

Coffee Lover's Basket: Specialty and flavored coffee, chocolate dipped spoons, flavored creamers and a mug are great beginning items.

Add to this biscotti cookies, or the person's favorite type of cookies, a coffee mill or electric grinder, something chocolate (truffles are great, homemade truffles even better!) and a favorite magazine if you know which they prefer to read.

Night at the Movies: Popcorn, boxes of "movie chocolate" and other snacks, two or three movies, a couple cans of soda and a custom printed "movie guide" round out this basket.

A perfect container would be a lap tray or serving tray with 1 - 2 inch high sides. Decoupage a plain wooden one with movie poster clip art, then varnish.

A variation would be passes to the local movie house, a gift card to a nearby restaurant, and a coupon for a free night of babysitting, in addition to the snacks.

A great container for this one would be a plain child's square lunch box, or a papier mache box decorated with movie related clip art.

Bookworm Basket: Choose one or more books in the recipient's favorite genre as a foundation for this basket. Hunt down unique and inspiring book marks, one for each book included.

Add in a reading light, some snacks and a drink (coffee and a mug, soda and a glass, etc).

Other items to consider would be personalized book plate stickers, a lap stand, and a subscription (usually free) to the local bookstore's catalog/newsletter, with one hard-copy in the basket.

Ice Cream Social: Ice cream or sundae glasses, a scoop, a couple types of chopped nuts, a bottle of maraschino cherries, sprinkles, sauces/toppings, spoons, napkins and a "lazy susan" start this basket out.

If you're like me, these would all be placed into an ice-cream maker with a bag of rock salt, a coupon for whipped cream, and a booklet of ice cream recipes.

As an alternative to machine made ice cream, there are some very good blender-to-freezer recipes for home-made ice cream as well.

Our Beauty Queen: Teenage girls will love this one! In a shiny metal basket (as frilly as you can find) place eye shadows, eye liner pencils, mascara, an eyelash curler and comb, blush and powder brushes, blush, foundation, assorted nail polish, a couple lipsticks and lip glosses, bronzing and finishing powders, body spray, and perfume.

You can also add hair accessories like pretty yet sophisticated barrettes, hair combs, scrunchies, clips and such.

Be sure to include cotton balls, make up sponges, make-up remover, and nail polish remover in a nice scent. Finally - toss in a set of jewelry in her birthstone, and a mirror for the final touch.

From My Kitchen Basket: In a decorative tin or hamper-style basket, layer in plates and jars of homemade cookies, candies, jellies and jams, quick-bread loaves, spreads, a be-ribboned jelly spoon and a pretty butter knife.

You can include 8 inch plastic plates - they come in clear red and clear green during the holidays. Tuck in a couple pretty napkins of paper or cloth, a mug or tea cup and flavored coffee, creamers or teas.

Alternately, you can make salsa, flavored oils and flavored vinegars very quickly, and tuck those in with a homemade or store bought loaf of french bread and some crackers, a bottle of wine, with glass and corkscrew, or a couple cans of specialty beer.

I would be honored if you would share your favorite gift basket ideas with us here... I'm always looking for creative new ideas!! 

Many Blessings,
GrannySue

 If you're reading this today, it's not going to be overly helpful. Bookmark this post, and come back in January, so it makes more sense! In the meantime, if you want to scan over it now, you'll get an idea of how to completely eliminate holiday AND budget stress....

There are a lot of great advantages to Christmas shopping year round. In my - not so humble - opinion, this is by far the best strategy I've ever used.

Some of the advantages include avoiding the stress of last minute shopping, not having to worry about accumulating exorbitant credit card bills during the Christmas season and being able to enjoy the Christmas spirit all year. Better still - you save a TON of money for just a little bit of planning once a year.


One of the biggest benefits of Christmas shopping year round is not having to do the bulk of your Christmas shopping at the last minute. Although there are some people who enjoy shopping during this hectic and chaotic time, most people find it stressful, to say the least.


It also winds up being very inconvenient, as you're looking for things in picked-over shelves, fighting crowds, and shopping ALWAYS takes far longer than planned, no matter what time of year.



Christmas shopping throughout the year also helps you to purchase more meaningful gifts for everyone on your Christmas list because you are not rushing around, so you have time to really think about what you are buying. You may find a gift you think is absolute perfect for your sister in the month of April. All you have to do is purchase the gift when you find it and save it for the Christmas season.


People who do their Christmas shopping year round are not only less stressed around the holiday season but they also have more free time to participate in other activities. Those who like to bake may skip baking if they feel like they still have too much Christmas shopping to do while those who did their shopping ahead of time can take some time to relax and bake wonderful cookies to enjoy during the Christmas season.


If you're like me and like to give at least a small gift which is home-made, you'll have time to make them. Also, since I try to give everyone something I made as well as a store-bought gift, planning, buying and working ahead also makes this idea much easier and far more budget-friendly.




For those who rush to get their Christmas shopping done in the month of December, the New Year can bring in a new set of financial problems. Repaying the debts accrued while Christmas shopping can be quite daunting! Especially if you didn't take time to think about spending limits, budgets and such things. However, those who wisely did their Christmas shopping throughout the year do not have this problem.


If you budget a certain amount of your monthly income for the purpose of Christmas shopping you may not even notice the financial strains of Christmas shopping. Or, you might eliminate them altogether. Although last minute shoppers may save up to do their Christmas shopping all at once by putting their money into a special savings account, it can be difficult to stick to a budget when you are actually doing the shopping!




Finally, Christmas shopping year round is a great idea because it helps people to stay in the Christmas spirit throughout the year. While many of us get caught up in the spirit of giving during the holidays, those who are always Christmas shopping may enjoy these feelings of generosity throughout the year.


Giving is a wonderful experience and although you may not actually be giving the gifts until Christmas you are purchasing them at other times during the year and this can be very fulfilling. Sometimes simply finding a great gift for a loved one can put you in a great mood and make you feel as though you have really accomplished something wonderful.

Many Blessings
GrannySue

  

Christmas shopping for close relatives can be extremely easy in some aspects but it can also be extremely difficult in others. On the one hand, shopping for close relatives is simple and a great deal of fun because they are people you really care about and people you know really well. However, on the other hand shopping for close relatives can also be extremely difficult and stressful because there is the added pressure to select Christmas gifts your relatives will really cherish and enjoy.

Most people really look forward to Christmas shopping for their close relatives. For them this is an opportunity to purchase a gift for a loved one that he or she is sure to enjoy and appreciate. Of course, this assumes you are close with your family, and not buying out of obligation.

One problem may stem from having a lot of great ideas about what to get a particular relative. You can't get them all! Well... most of us can't anyway. So selecting from a list of several items gives you a fair shot so long as the options are readily available.

If you know one certain item is the perfect gift, you might run into the opposite problem... This can be particularly stressful and frustrating if you are simply unable to find the exact item you are seeking during any of your shopping trips. While its alway a good idea to know generally what you are looking for, don't write single ideas in stone! This frustration can make the Christmas shopping a great deal less fun. It can also cause you to not see other items which would also be great gifts because you are so focused on finding this one particular item.

Even when you don’t have a list of gift ideas for a particular relative, you may experience a great deal of frustration during your Christmas shopping. The pressure of finding a great Christmas gift is most often due to perfectionist tendancies on the part of the shopper, and not so much to picky recipients. Although this should not really be a concern because it is most likely your close relatives will all be thrilled with just about any gift you select for them, it still causes stress for many people.


Another problem associated with shopping for close relatives is it may be difficult to select appropriate gifts for multiple relatives without worrying that they will compare the gifts. Again, this is not a likely scenario as most people would not go out of their way to discuss the gifts they were given, but it is something that causes concern for many. Some individuals will feel that it is not appropriate to purchase an expensive gift for one relative but not for others.

One way to deal with this is to select one item and give similar items to all of the relatives. Although the gifts will not be unique or selected for each individual it is one way to deal with the possibility of the recipients sharing information about the gifts they received. One example of how to do this is to give an item such as a sweater to each relative but to personalize the gift by selecting different styles or colors for each relative.


I give a hand filled fruit & nut basket and box of home-made cookies to each family as a unit, in addition to the following:

Our extended family solves all of these problems by holding a version of a grab bag. Rather than buying a gift for each person, names are put in a hat and each person has one to buy for. That keeps the budget in line (there are about 12 people in this grab bag in any given year). We set a dollar limit, usually $25 or $50 - which keeps the budget even happier! We also stipulate that the gift be a gift card. Shopping is fast and simple.

The kicker in the whole thing is that each person has to choose 3 gift cards they would like to receive. So - everybody is happy, stress-free and on budget.

The kids all get gifts from everyone, but the adults get their card and are good to go. If you have a large family or an especially tight money year going on, this might be a way for everyone to stay comfortable and still enjoy the best parts of the season - including participation in the gift-giving ritual.

Many Blessings,
GrannySue

PS: Don't forget to leave a comment - your hints, tips and suggestions are always appreciated!! 

The Ultimate in Indulgence!
Several basket themes lend themselves perfectly to gifts for women, though many men would also appreciate their own variations.


Items to consider would be soaps, bath salts, essential oils, body lotions. There may be an inflatable bath pillow, back brush, loofah sponge, natural sponge, and maybe an exfoliating mitt. For men, of course, choose muskier scents, and consider after shaves, shaving gel and such.

Aromatherapy candles are popular additions as the candlelight and the scent of candles will add to the soothing atmosphere of a warm bath.

A CD of soothing music or natural sounds such as breaking waves, adds yet another dimension.

Other ideas are a pair of cozy slippers, a luxurious towel, a fluffy robe and a bottle of Perrier for after the bath. Guys like warm slippers and robes, too - and the candle can be pine or another woodland scent.

Extra items to consider including would be -

Foot care: Pedicure sets or accessories, pumice stone, foot scrub, moisturizer, wooden foot massager, spa slippers.

Hand care: Manicure set or accessories, nails and cuticle cream, hand cream, nail treatment, nail scrub brush.

Facials: A luxurious face cloth, facial cleanser, exfoliant, moisturizer, complexion brush, lip moisturizer, relaxing eye mask.

Mix and match items to suit both taste and budget. If you know the favorite scent of the person you are preparing the basket for, by all means, choose items with this fragrance, and build from there. If not, generally vanilla, rose or "rain" are both easy to find, and popular with many women.

Musk, patchouli, pine and bergamot are generally pleasing to men.

Lavender can work for both, though it is typically thought of as a scent for women.

Luxury items to consider would be a natural sponge, natural bristle bath brush and hair brush, and handmade soap.

House them in decorative rope or wicker baskets, or in a hamper-style picnic basket. Line with holiday fabric (deep red and green plaid with a little white and gold would be perfect for men or women), and you've got a great Christmas gift basket idea!

One more thing: add a rose in pink, red or white as appropriate, and a small bud vase attached to the outside of the package.


Everybody loves chocolate! You can't go wrong if you get creative and find several delectables to add. Here are some unique additions that are great Christmas gift basket ideas:

Some favorites available at this time of year are chocolate covered cranberries, blueberries, cherries, and sunflower seeds.

Truffles and gourmet or homemade chocolate chip cookies are a great addition, too. Add chocolate covered almonds, mint chocolates, chocolate fudge, hot chocolate and chocolate stir sticks.

Novelty chocolates such as foil wrapped coins, footballs, baseballs, or such would be great for a sports fan, male or female.

You can also make your own, either by melting chocolate and using candy molds, or even by buying dried fruits and dipping them. Dried figs or bananas, and most candied fruits like cherries or citron are great for this.

I wouldn't do chocolate covered strawberries unless you can make them the morning you intend to give them, and have a way of keeping them cold from creation to ingestion.

For a special twist on the stir stick idea, get some plastic or metal teaspoons, and dip them in your own melted chocolate!

Dip part way up the handle, and let sit on waxed paper to dry. Then dip again. Package in cellophane bags made for lolli-pops that you can find at any craft.

(In fact, these make great stand alone gifts for a hostess or neighbor!)

Perfect containers are often in the form of unique, hand decorated wooden or papier mache boxes such as treasure chests that can be used long after the holidays are over.

If you are trying to be romantic, remember that chocolate contains phenylethylamine, the same chemical produced in the brain when a person is in love.

Coffee goes really well with chocolate. Why not incorporate a little gourmet coffee with a mug?

Be sure to include a single rose and vase with this one, too!

Many Blessings,
  GrannySue

PS: Be sure to add your own ideas and suggestions to the comments section!!!