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Stocking Stuffers For Men-Christmas Stocking Stuffer Gift Ideas for Guys and Dads

Lin — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 20:20:06 +0000

Christmas stocking stuffers are traditionally small, cheap and inexpensive gifts for filling Christmas stockings. Men, women and children often say that Christmas stockings are the best part of Christmas. Getting those creative juices flowing with new and unique stocking ideas for men and dads is often a challenge, especially if the guy in your life is one of those “hard to buy for” or “who has everything”.

So, what are the most popular Christmas stocking stuffers for men, guys and dads? It should come as no surprise that what tops the list of the most popular types of Christmas stocking stuffers for men or dads this year are cheap, frugal, fun or funny stocking stuffers for guys.

Grandparent Christmas gifts and stocking stuffers for seniors who have everything can be hard too, and that is why Christmas Gift Baskets and stockings containing candy, cookies and other edible treats are a favorite for grandparents. Dads, brothers, grandfathers, uncles, boyfriends, fathers-in-law, brothers-in-law, bosses, co-workers and corporate big-shots enjoy useful or practical gifts at Christmas, but that doesn’t mean that these thoughtful gift ideas can’t be fun too.

Adult Stocking Stuffers

While some families are primarily filling stockings with fruits, nuts and small homemade treats and gifts for a more traditional Christmas, others are adding stocking fillers with a more adult theme. Adult stocking stuffers include funny novelty gag gifts like a whoopee cushion, homemade Snowman or Reindeer “poop” made from mini-marshmallows, but adult-themed stockings also include sexy or naughty stocking stuffers for men to bring a bit of fire and spice to the bedroom. Buy sexy, naughty, adult stocking stuffers for men (and women) from Spencer Gifts Here!

The typical Top 10 Christmas stocking stuffer lists can get pretty boring, especially if the guy in your life is a computer geek or gadget freak. Techie gadget gifts for men that are small enough to fit into a Christmas stocking are selling out fast, but not at the Geek Store called ThinkGeek. At ThinkGeek, gadget buyers receive Free FedEx Home Delivery if you use the coupon code: DEALNEWS, so if you are looking for must-have geeky gadgets for the guy in your life, buy them now before they are all sold out.

Themed Stocking Stuffers

A popular trend in stocking stuffers are commonly referred to as themed stocking stuffers for a more personalized stocking. If you have ever shopped for Christmas gifts at stores like Things Remembered or collectiblestoday.com, you understand the concept of personalized or engraved gift ideas found there.

Themed Christmas stockings are similar to themed gift baskets, where Christmas gifts and personalized stocking stuffers have something in common with the gift recipients interests and hobbies such as the fisherman, golfer, gardener, chef or cook, sports fanatic, entertainment or movie lover, computer geek, Eco-friendly environmentalist or crafter, just to name a few.

Stocking stuffer lists can go on endlessly, depending on the who the stocking is for, but here is a list of affordable Christmas stocking stuffers and novelty ideas to help get you on your way towards filling those stockings without added stress. Be sure to fill those stockings with a mixed variety of traditional or practical stuff, but spice up those silly stockings for men, husbands and dads with a few sexy/naughty stocking stuffers too.

Christmas Stocking Stuffers For Men

DVDs

Music Cds

Shot Glass

Hacky Sack/Footbag

Bobblehead

Gadgets/Electronic Gadgets

Pooping Reindeer Candy

Flying Screaming SlingShot Monkey

Key Chain Bottle Opener

Balanzza Digital Luggage Scale

Candy Coal for naughty guys

Sex Deck Playing Cards for verrry naughty guys

Computer headset with microphone

Collision Kit

Personalized Christmas Ornament

Shoewallet for runners, joggers, travelers

Travel size games

Complete Survival Emergency Kit in A Bottle

Smith’s Abrasive Edge Grip 2 Stage Knife Sharpener

Pocket Get Off The Phone Excuse Key Chain

Golf balls or tees

18-hole stroke counter

Tennis balls

Fishing Lures

Sporting Event Tickets

Concert Tickets

Sports Collector Cards

Packets of seeds for gardeners

Small Portable Speakers

Small Handheld Massager

Book Light for reading

Laser Pointer Pen

Camouflage items for hunters

Hand Warmer Packets

Wine bottle opener

Travel Mug

Guitar Picks & Holder

Drum sticks

Compact Binoculars

Wallet

Money Clip

Cologne/After Shave

iTunes Gift Card

Personalized Luggage Tags

Personalized Christmas Ornaments

Remote Control Car

USB Flash Drive

Paperback Book

Jerky/Slim Jim snack

Shaving kit

Personal Grooming kit

PEZ Dispensers w/candy

Favorite candy/cookies

Leather Driving Gloves for men

Ice scraper

Quality pen set

Screw drivers

Scratch Off Lottery Tickets

Cheap Magazine Subscriptions

Boxers/jogging pants

Deck of Playing Cards

Dice, Poker Chips

Gasoline Gift card

Restaurant Gift Certificates

Pocket knife

Personalized/Engraved key chain

Geeky Gadget T-Shirt

Sunglasses

Cell phone accessories

Pocket calendar

Business card holder

Small tool/repair kit

Small office desk set

Mini first aid kit

Small emergency sewing kit

Wristwatch

Silver or gold neck chain

Batteries!!!

Ipod or MP3 player for runners and joggers

Back Scratcher

Flashlight

Tire gauge

Voice recorder

Collector coins

Pill case and cutter

Day planner

Hair products

Razors

Thermal socks

Digital Measuring Tape

Callpod Chargepod

Picture frames

Kitchen gadgets

Racy underwear

Sports water bottle

Novelty mouse pad

Harmonica

Kite

Paper/wooden airplane kit

Sheet music

Pedometer

Popcorn or popcorn ball

Sample/trial size men’s toiletries or soap

There you have 100+ stocking stuffer ideas for the men in your life. Guys, what do you want or hope to get in your Christmas stocking this year? What is your personal favorite Christmas stocking gift received thus far? Do you prefer practical stocking stuffers, personalized stockings, or are you thinking you might like to get a couple/few “adult stocking stuffers” this year?

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Most Popular Christmas Toys 2009-Hot New Toys For Kids Christmas

Lin — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 23:01:43 +0000

Christmas 2009 is here. Are you ready? Every Christmas holiday season parents ask, “What will be the most popular hot new toys for Christmas this year?” The latest trends in new toys for Christmas correspond closely to the economy, which is why the “Recession Christmas” or frugal Christmas gifts term is often used by people looking for affordable Christmas gifts for their kids and teens.

Toy makers and manufacturers understand that people have less money to spend on Christmas this year and are making smaller versions of large more-expensive toys, with one example being the new mini version of last years big Fur Real dinosaur from the Hasbro Fur Real Friends line of toys.

A hot new trend in toys for 2009 are Eco-friendly, “Green” or recycled toys that are made out of recycled materials to help the environment. Toys made from environmentally friendly materials are called Green Toys, such as the Fuzz That Was by Mary Meyer, which are stuffed toy pets made out of old recycled water bottles.

Green Toys for Kids

An Eco-friendly green toy company in California called The Green Toy Company sells “Made in the USA” toys for kids from 100% recycled materials, including a toy recycling truck, a toy dump truck, indoor gardening kit, jump rope, sand play set, an Ecosaucer, a toy cookware and dining set, toy tool set, a toy dish set, a toy chef set, and a toy tea set – each made from recycled milk bottles.

Popular “green” toy brands like Sprig Toys, Green Toys, Plan Toys, miYim Toys and HaPe Toys offer a large variety of children’s toys for babies, toddlers and older kids at affordable prices that will help keep you within your Christmas budget. Check out the list of best-selling toys for Christmas or Chanukah and you’ll see that the ever-popular Leap Frog Tag Reading System by LeapFrog is still high on the must-have list, along with the English version of Bananagrams and the Spanish Bananagrams by the Bananagrams company. Here are some of the best-selling green toys for kids:

Green Toys Tea Set by Green Toys
Sprig Toys Eco-Truck Dump Truck by Sprig Toys
Sprig Toys Eco-Truck Loader by Sprig Toys
Green Toys Cookware and Dining Set by Green Toys
Green Toys Recycle Truck by Green Toys
Plan Toy Solid Wood Drum by Plan Toys
Green Toys Tool Set by Green Toys
Green Toys Dump Truck by Green Toys
Sprig Toys Eco-Truck Excavator by Sprig Toys
Sprig Toys Discover Rig by Sprig Toys

Hot Christmas Toys 2009

Other hot Christmas toy items this year for girls or boys include electronics such as the Radica Ucreate Music and Radica Ucreate Games by Mattel; the Jonas Brothers Pix Micro Digital Camera; the Disney Floral Pix Digital Camera; Hello Kitty and Friends Plush Doll and accessories; Zhu Zhu Pets (especially the hamster) and anything by the Vtech toy company.

Jessica Hartshorn, Senior Lifestyle Editor for American Baby Magazine, examined the most popular hot new toys for Christmas 2009 from the American International Toy Fair. Predictions of the most popular toys for Christmas include the comeback of classic toys, board games and puzzles, remote control cars and frozen snack machines referred to now as freeze pop machines.

Top 10 Most Popular Games

Mindflex Game by Mattel
Bananagrams by Bananagrams
The Settlers of Catan by Mayfair Games
Quiddler by SET Enterprises, Inc.
Wild Planet Hyper Dash by Wild Planet
SET Game by SET Enterprises, Inc.
Scrabble Slam Cards by Hasbro Games
The Settlers of Catan 5-6 Player Extension by Mayfair Games
Twilight Board Game by Cardinal Industries
100 Assorted Pokemon Trading Cards Lot by Pokemon USA

Children’s Learning Toys

Educational toys, aka “working and learning toys”, are making a big comeback as some of the best Christmas gifts for kids. Crayola has a “Drop and See” ball drop-style toy that uses “TaDoodles” to teach small kids colors, shapes and sounds, but is also fun for kids to play with. Toy brands like Hasbro, Fisher Price, LeapFrog, Melissa and Doug, Think Fun & Insect Lore working and learning toys for children are battling for the #1 spot of most popular educational toys for children on Amazon.

LeapFrog® Tag Reading System by LeapFrog
Fisher-Price Brilliant Basics Baby’s First Blocks by Fisher Price
Hasbro Playskool Busy Ball Popper by Hasbro
LeapFrog® Learn & Groove Musical Table by LeapFrog
ThinkFun Zingo by ThinkFun
Live Butterfly Garden by Insect Lore
Melissa & Doug See & Spell by Melissa and Doug
Fisher-Price Rainforest Melodies & Lights Deluxe Gym by Fisher Price
LeapFrog® Leapster® 2 Learning Game System – Green by LeapFrog
Melissa & Doug Magnetic Wooden Alphabet by Melissa and Doug

Keep a close eye on Melissa & Doug toys/arts and crafts for kids because these are cleaning up on Amazon! Melissa & Doug Arts and Crafts are selling like Hot Cakes, especially the Deluxe Standing Easel, and they are all getting rave reviews!

The toy fair also revealed a new and innovative kids toy called the Peek-A-Boo Bag from I-Play for toddlers that has become quite popular, which is a small square cloth bag filled with beads and various colorful shaped toy items. There’s a see-through plastic window sewn into the peek-a-boo bag where kids can shake, squish or squeeze the toy to move the beads around, revealing new shapes and colors of pink, blue, yellow and white.

The 2009 Toy Fair in London offered a few “best new toys of 2009” recommendations including toys from brands like Ben 10, Charlie and Lola, In the Night Garden, Peppa Pig, Timmy Time and Yo Gabba Gabba. What about you? Are you looking for Green Toys for kids to help the environment, or just trying to find cheap Christmas toys for your kids?

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Kids Christmas Songs, Funny Christmas Songs For Kids, Children’s Christmas Music

Lin — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 01:31:36 +0000

Kids Christmas songs that are funny makes listening to Christmas music especially delightful for children and preschool kids during the Christmas holiday season, and grownups often have a great time listening to silly Christmas songs too.

If you are looking for children’s Christmas music or carols for your kids to sing along to, below you will find a large extensive list of Christmas songs to choose from, perhaps even the ultimate kids Christmas music playlist found anywhere online.

You can spend a lot of time going through all of the online lists of Top 10 Christmas songs for kids or even lists of some Top 25 kids Christmas songs, but here you will find a total of 103 Christmas songs for children.

If you are looking for a list of the best Christmas music that includes traditional Christmas songs, funny Christmas songs for kids, Spanish Christmas Carols or even Christian Christmas music, look no further because this is the only list you will need. Having downloadable Christmas songs to listen to on an iPod, mp3 player or in your car cd player will definitely help you and your kids get in the Christmas spirit. Enjoy!

Kids Christmas Music – Funny Christmas Songs

In no particular order, here the Ultimate List of Christmas Songs For Kids:

Keep in mind you can download Christmas music with lyrics, midi files and Christmas song books. You can also download Christmas sheet music to learn how to play Christmas songs on virtually all musical instruments including piano, guitar, flute, harmonica, coral, brass, violin, woodwind and many more.

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Stocking Stuffer Ideas: 103 Christmas Stocking Stuffers For Kids and Teens

Lin — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 19:56:02 +0000

Do you ever have trouble coming up with new ideas for filling Christmas stockings? Christmas stocking stuffers for kids and teens are often one of the last things parents or grandparents shop for during the Christmas holiday season, and by the time you decide to buy kids candy stocking stuffers in the cheap dime store aisles, all the good stuff is gone.

If you think kids stocking stuffers are a challenge, just wait until your kids become teenagers and you find the typical stocking fillers of candy or small toys just doesn’t cut it anymore. That’s usually when parents start feeling like there is no such thing as cheap stocking stuffers anymore, often finding themselves spending a small fortune on filling stockings when the money may be better spent elsewhere.

Watching kids and teens discover the unique little goodies in their Christmas stockings is always a fun thing for families come Christmas morning, that’s for sure. Parents are either finding cheap and creative ways to fill xmas stockings during this Christmas recession we’re in, including sticking to traditional ideas of filling stockings with fruits and nuts, while other parents have decided not to fill stockings at all or at least use very small Christmas stockings this year.

If you are looking for some new stocking stuffer ideas that won’t break the bank, here is a list of 103 stocking stuffers for kids and teens that are inexpensive, but will also light up those cute little faces Christmas morning.

Stocking Stuffers for Kids – Boys or Girls

Matchbox or Hot Wheel cars
Model airplane kit
The famous SlingShot Flying Monkey, cow, frog, duck, pig or chicken.
Yo-Yo
Magic cards or playing cards
Small puzzles
Gift cards
Bath toys for babies, toddlers and children
Colored pencils, crayons, coloring books, markers
Finger paints
Play-Doh or Silly Putty
Candy and chocolates
Costume jewelry for kids
Cheap hair accessories
Small arts and crafts for kids
Chapstick, flavored lip-gloss, play makeup, nail polish
Glittery body gels, bubble bath, scented bath soaps
Stickers, diary/journal, pens
Small bath toys
Small wallet or coin purse
Gum or mints
Small baby dolls
Small purse/handbag
Mini lego sets
Small stuffed animal
Pocket Etch A Sketch
Nightlight
Book or kids magazine subscription
Stamp pad and stamps
Silly novelty shoelaces
Slinky!
Novelty toothbrush
Kids stationery or note cards
Piggy bank
Kids Wrist Watch
Card games
Activity books/Word search for kids
Jump rope
Small Hi Bounce ball
Hand or Finger Puppet
Small kaleidoscope
Small travel games
Bubbles
Marbles
Disposable camera
Cds/DVDs
Harmonica, flute/recorder
Movie tickets
Perfume/cologne
Hat, mittens/gloves, scarf
Sing Along Microphone
Socks/Slippers
Handheld games for kids
Collectible sports cards
Batteries (always a must-have)

Christmas Stocking Stuffers For Teens

Cds/DVDs
iTunes Gift Card
Disposable or Digital camera
Perfume or cologne
Chapstick/lip gloss
Gum/mints
IPod and/or iPod Ear Buds
MP3 player
Teen/tween wrist watch
Yo-Yo for teens
Candy and chocolates
Nail polish and makeup
Bath products
Hair Gel/Styling Products
Hair accessories
Small remote control cars
Rubik’s Cube brain teaser
Jewelry for teens
Manual or Electric razor
Votive Candles
Snow globe
Paperback book
Hand lotion/body lotion
Shaving gel and Aftershave
Keychain for teen drivers
Movie tickets
Events/Sports tickets
Scratch off tickets
Mini Tool Kit
Personal Grooming Kit
Deck of cards
Gas station gift card
Cell phone accessories
Wallet or money clip
Sunglasses
Amazon Gift Cards
Concert tickets
Borders Gift Cards
Flashlight
Reading Light
Electric toothbrush
Journal/Diary/Planner
Tire gauge
Restaurant Gift Certificates
Hacky Sack/Footbag
Twilight merchandise/stuff
Personalized Christmas ornament
Coupons for “no chores” day

Got any Christmas stocking stuffer ideas to add to the list? What are some of the typical or traditional stocking stuffers you or your family add to stockings every year? Is your family doing away with Christmas stockings this year, or perhaps using smaller stockings?

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Best Selling Children’s Books-New York Times Children’s Books Best Seller List

Lin — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 04:30:08 +0000

The New York Times has released a new list of the best selling children’s books which includes picture books and chapter books that children of all ages love to read. Reading over the list of the best selling children’s books, and how some books remain on the top sellers list for several weeks, you can clearly see that kids books are still a favorite pastime.

These books may or may not make it on the list of best selling children’s books of all time, but if nothing else, some of these books at least deserve to be on the top of the list of most popular children’s books and added to your Christmas gift list for kids that like to read.

Here is the Top 10 list of best selling children’s picture books and chapter books, according to the NY Times, for a total of 20 children’s books.

Best Selling Children Picture Books

1. Listen to the Wind: The Story of Dr. Greg and “Three Cups of Tea” by Greg Mortenson and Susan L. Roth. (Ages 4-8) 32 weeks on the best seller list!

2. Gallop!: A Scanimation Picture Book by Rufus Butler Seder. (Ages 4-8) 95 weeks on the best seller list!

3. Marley Goes to School by John Grogan. (Ages 3-8) 6 weeks on the best seller list!

4. Goldilicious by Victoria Kann. (Ages 5-8) 15 weeks on the best seller list!

5. Oceanology: The True Account of the Voyage of the Nautilus by Ferdinand Zoticus deLessups. (Ages 9-12) 1 week on the best seller list!

6. Swing! by Rufus Butler Seder (Ages 4-8) 47 weeks on the best seller list!

7. The Lion & the Mouse by Jerry Pinckney (Ages 4-8) 1 week on the best seller list!

8. Dewey: There’s a Cat in the Library! by Vicki Myron (Ages 4-8) 1 week on the list of best sellers!

9. Fancy Nancy: Explorer Extraordinaire! By Jane O’Connor (Ages 4-7) 19 weeks on the best seller list!

10. Truckery Rhymes (Jon Scieszka’s Trucktown) by Jon Scieszka (Ages 3-8) 2 weeks on the best seller list!

Best Selling Children Chapter Books

1. Catching Fire (The Second Book of the Hunger Games) by Suzanne Collins (Ages 12 and up) 1 week on the NY Times best seller list!

2. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (Ages 12 and up) 52 weeks on the best seller list!

3. Tricks by Ellen Hopkins (Ages 14 and up) 2 weeks on the best seller list!

4. Sent (Missing) by Margaret Peterson Haddix (Ages 8-12) 2 weeks on the best seller list!

5. L.A. Candy by Lauren Conrad (Ages 14 and up) 12 weeks on the best seller list!

6. Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater (Ages 12 and up) 6 weeks on the best seller list!

7. The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman (Ages 10 and up) 49 weeks on the best seller list!

8. Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher (Ages 14 and up) 46 weeks on the best seller list!

9. Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen (Ages 14 and up) 12 weeks on the best seller list!

10. Daniel X: Watch the Skies by James Patterson and Ned Rust (Ages 12 and up) 6 weeks on the best seller list!

Getting children or teens to read more often, and off of those addictive video games or vegetating in front of the television set for hours on end, is a very good thing.

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Christmas 2009 Most Popular Best Christmas Gifts Ideas For Kids

Lin — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 05:01:02 +0000

The Christmas 2009 top 10 Christmas gifts for kids projection by Hamleys has been released. If Christmas this year is anything like the Christmas list of hot toys and gifts for children in 2008, the best Christmas gifts, toys and games for 2009 will be a sure hit with kids. This is Hamleys list of the “hot toys” for Christmas this year:

1.   Battle Strikers Tournament Set by Mega Brands
2.   Transformers Bumblebee Helmet by Hasbro
3.   Transformers Movie Leaders by Hasbro
4.   V Motion by VTech
5.   Kidizoom Camera by VTech
6.   Barbie and the Three Musketeers Doll by Mattel
7.   Barbie & the Three Musketeers Kitten Miette by Mattel
8.   Rubik’s 360 by Drumond Park
9.   Bop It by Hasbro
10. Lego Minotaurus Board Game by Lego

The Top Christmas gift that nearly everyone wants for Christmas is the Nintendo Wii, a physically interactive gaming system where kids and families have a blast with the Wii Sports Resort, play tennis, bowling, get physically fit with the bestselling Wii Fit and the very popular Wii Fit with Balance Board, just to name a few.

Amazon usually has the best prices for Christmas gifts or gifts for anytime of year, often with FREE shipping. For the best low prices on Christmas gifts and shipping deals before items are sold out, and to keep up with the best Christmas gift ideas for 2009, bookmark (save to your favorites) these Amazon pages:

Hot New Releases

Most Gifted

Most Wished For

Movers & Shakers

Top Christmas Gift Ideas for Boys, Girls, Teens and Tweens

Amazon Gift Cards
iTunes Gift Cards
Baby Gifts 0-2yrs
Toddler Gifts 2-4yrs
Best Toys and Games
Electronics/Tech Gadgets
Top Children’s Magazines
Favorite Children’s Books
Most Popular Dolls
Bestselling Stuffed Animals and Toys
Christmas Gifts for Boys 5-8yrs, 9-12yrs, 13-17yrs.
Christmas Gifts for Girls 5-8yrs, 9-12yrs, 13-17yrs.

There are many cheap Christmas gifts to help you stay within your Christmas budget, just as there are lots of cheap and inexpensive Christmas stocking stuffers to fill those stockings for frugal-minded shoppers.

Finding unique Christmas gifts for Xmas 2009 only requires you to get your creative juices flowing and start making those Christmas lists! Don’t forget to consider making homemade Christmas gifts from your kitchen, as handmade gifts top the list of many of the most treasured gifts of all.

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Recession Christmas – 12 Frugal Christmas Present Gift Ideas

Lin — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 21:03:31 +0000

Ready or not, the Christmas season is upon us. Stores are stocking up on anything and everything related to Christmas gift-giving, while many families are trying to find ways to survive Christmas during a recession. Christmas may not seem so “Merry” for those affected by job layoffs, home foreclosures and in some cases, outright poverty. Many families are in need of life’s basic necessities, due in part to the economic downturn, and will be in need of Christmas donations from those more fortunate.

According to a survey by Ing Direct, only about half of American adults (54%) plan to spend $300.00 or more on holiday Christmas gifts this year, a 10% decrease from what Americans spent last year during the 2008 Christmas holiday season. The survey results show that only 11% plan to spend between $1 and $100 in 2009 on Xmas gifts, and 23% plan to spend $100-$299, compared to 21 percent last year.

11% of those surveyed don’t plan to spend any money at all on Christmas toys or gifts in 2009, compared to 7 percent in 2008, a 57 percent increase. 14% of parents are giving children smaller Christmas stockings this year, while others are choosing to not fill Xmas stockings at all, and some will just hang the stockings as a Christmas decoration. Older Americans (55 years old and up) show the most dramatic change, with 61% planning to spend $300 or more dollars on gifts this year, compared to 71% from last year.

41% of Americans say saving more and spending less is a top priority for the remainder of the year and beyond. According to Forbes.com, 67% of Americans say they will continue their frugal ways by saving more money and spending less even after the economy recovers. The recession creates a great opportunity to rethink priorities in life, with less focus on luxuries and frivolous spending, and greater importance being placed on real “needs” vs. “wants”.

If you are being frugal by choice or by sheer necessity, Christmas presents a financial challenge for those who are needing a less expensive, affordable Christmas holiday. Here are twelve inexpensive, frugal Christmas gift ideas that won’t break the bank.

Frugal Christmas Present Gift Ideas

1). Candles – Scented candles are one of the best Christmas gifts candle lovers can receive. You can buy candles and wrap them in cheap wrapping paper and/or ribbon, or make homemade candles yourself in your kitchen (if you enjoy doing do-it-yourself craft projects) and wrap the candles with inexpensive, decorative tissue paper and ribbon as a gift.

2). Stationery or journal, with or without a fancy pen, makes a great gift for someone on your gift list who enjoys keeping a writing journal or writing letters to family and friends. Older folks especially, who don’t use a computer to send and receive email, still enjoy writing to friends and family the “old fashioned” way, and being gifted with beautiful stationery just might be their favorite Christmas gift of all.

3). Jewelry – Jewelry gifts for Christmas don’t have to be fine jewelry made of expensive diamonds or pearls, but can be inexpensive costume jewelry and accessories like: cufflinks, bracelets, necklaces, lockets, charms, earrings, sterling silver rings, birthstones, wrist watch, pendants and chains. Jewelry tops the list of the most romantic Christmas gifts to show your love for the special him or her in your life.

4). Books and/or Magazine Subscriptions – Researching the most popular, best-selling books and ebooks for adults or children is a great place to start, with many adults preferring to read books on a Kindle eBook reader. Books by a favorite author, and/or magazines for kids or adults makes a great Christmas gift that avid readers will enjoy. Children’s classic books are always a good choice, as are newly released books or kid magazines that are fun and educational at the same time.

5). Music and DVD Christmas gifts can sometimes be tricky, especially if you aren’t quite sure what kind of music or movies the gift recipient likes. iTunes gift certificates or gift cards from Amazon.com, in whatever amount you can afford, will satisfy the music-lover and movie-lover in your life without a doubt.

6). Homemade Christmas gifts from your kitchen. Homemade food gifts may include such tasty treats as chocolate spoons for the coffee lover; chocolate-dipped pretzels or marshmallows; homemade caramel popcorn or Kettle corn; cappuccino mixes; homemade breads or muffins; peanut brittle or fudge just to name a few.

7). Christmas gifts in a jar are an inexpensive, frugal gift for anytime of year. Gifts in a jar may be cookie or brownie mixes, holiday beverage mixes, baking mixes, gourmet coffee mixes, tea mixes, soup mixes and even bath salts layered in a glass canning jar, or Mason jar.

8). Homemade gifts of quilts, embroidered handkerchiefs, scarves, hats, gloves, socks, shawls, sweaters, hair ribbons and other things sewn and made by hand are meaningful gifts to be treasured and passed down through the generations as family heirlooms.

9). Photo albums, scrapbooks and picture frames with photo(s) of special occasions and loved ones create long-lasting memories that can be personalized for each gift recipient. Try your hand at scrapbooking with some inexpensive scrapbook supplies and start making homemade crafts and gifts now, and see for yourself if your handmade gifts aren’t the most treasured Xmas gifts of all.

10). Board games and card games are cheap Christmas gifts that can get the whole family (and friends) involved in having fun together on Christmas day and after the holiday season is over. Researching classic board games and checking out the list of the most popular board games and card games is a great place to start, and many of the old board games have been updated and re-released as new and improved.

11). Inexpensive Christmas gifts for him may be travel toiletries, favorite specialty beer or wine, hand tools, car wash kit, shoe polish kit, personalized golf balls, business card case, wallet, money clip, coffee mug, One For All Universal Remote control, men’s cologne or aftershave, gift certificates for guy gadgets. There are also many personalized Christmas gifts for men that are not expensive and will fit in just about anyone’s Christmas budget.

12). Christmas gifts for her under $50, $25 or even under $10 may be bath and body products, her favorite perfume, slippers, scented jar candles (see #1), digital photo frame, affordable jewelry, cashmere sweater or socks, jewelry box, small purse or handbag, iPod, mobile phone accessories, tickets to a play or concert, lingerie, or even engraved/personalized Christmas gifts for women within your Christmas budget.

Are you planning or having to cut back on your Christmas spending this year? What are some of the ways you are going about enjoying the upcoming Christmas holiday season during these tough economic times? Are there any Christmas traditions or expenditures that you and your family have decided to eliminate this Xmas season, perhaps not sending Christmas cards or trimming back on the list of gift recipients? Share your ideas for a frugal Christmas in the comments below.

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Kaboom Town 2009 Addison TX July 4th Fireworks Show – DFW Goes Kaboom!

Lin — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 21:41:04 +0000

Kaboom Town in Addison TX, just north of Dallas, is having their annual Kaboom Town fireworks show in celebration of the July 4th Independence Day today, Friday, July 3, 2009 starting at 5:00 p.m. until midnight tonight. Are you going to Kaboom Town in Addison today?

Kaboom Town Addison TX fireworks show is the biggest and best fireworks show around DFW, and Kaboom Town is always a spectacular fireworks show. Since Garland and Carrollton have canceled their fireworks shows due to budget cuts, we’re trying to decide which July fourth fireworks show we’ll be attending this year.

Since we live in Plano Texas, we may attend the Frisco fireworks show because it’s closer than Addison, or we may have our own cookout in the backyard and just watch nearby fireworks go Kaboom and light up the sky. Fellow Plano resident, Stephanie Cleveland, shares her own thoughts about Kaboom Town and it’s enormous appeal to Texas residents living in surrounding towns and cities.

Kaboom Town in Addison always occurs on July 3rd every year, and with thousands upon thousands of people attending Kaboom Town, visitors would be wise to arrive very early in order to get the best spot to watch the 30-minute fireworks show, and to find a decent parking space that doesn’t require walking from Plano TX. Yes, there are THAT many people expected to attend Kaboom Town this year.

Kaboom Town is located in Addison Texas, at Addison Circle Park, Bud Light Main Stage, 4970 Addison Circle Drive. There is no charge to attend Kaboom Town, but bring money if you plan on buying food, drinks and to watch the showing of Raiders of the Lost Ark immediately following the fireworks show. The spectacular 30-minute fireworks show is choreographed to music and will be simulcast live on 100.3 FM radio for everyone to enjoy the combination of music and fireworks equally.

Kaboom Town was named Travel + Leisure’s Best July 4th Fireworks display, and for very good reason.

A 4.4-square-mile suburb north of Dallas with 15,000 residents may seem an unlikely spot to celebrate the nation’s birthday, but it’s an excellent one—or so think the half-million people who watch the display each year. Preceded by flyovers of commemorative planes (courtesy of the town’s Cavanaugh Flight Museum) and the patriotic music of military bands, this show features the most current technology, the newest shells on the market, and a live radio simulcast.
Where to View: By virtue of northern Texas’s trademark flatness and lack of humidity, these fireworks’ spectacular displays can be seen from miles away, as if carried by the night air’s heat.

D Magazine has a detailed list of fun things to do in the Dallas-Fort Worth area during the July 4th Independence Day holiday festivities, concerts, and more.

The Dallas Morning News has a short list of July 4th fireworks shows including Kaboom Town, Fair Park Fourth and Trinity River Fiesta, so be sure to check those listings.

The DMN Opinion page provides detailed information for those interested in attending Fair Park Fourth at Dallas’ Fair Park, including admission fees, parking costs, and a performance by our own Olympic Gold Medalist Carly Patterson who will sing in the stadium at 8 p.m. on Saturday, July 4, 2009.

Happy Birthday America!!!

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Barbie Alternative: Only Hearts Club Dolls the Best Bratz, Barbie Alternative Doll Review

Lin — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 18:51:52 +0000

Barbie alternative? Appropriate dolls? Parents are looking for an age-appropriate alternative doll for their little girls to enjoy, especially since Barbie dolls and Bratz dolls, Dora the Explorer (amongst others), have been “updating” the clothes these dolls are now wearing to include inappropriate, racy, “sexy” outfits on dolls for young kids. Meet the Only Hearts Girls by Only Hearts Club, a great alternative to Barbie dolls and Bratz girls. Not only are the Only Hearts Club girls baby dolls that look real, but the Only Hearts girls are appropriate toys for young kids to play with.

What is Only Hearts Club? Only Hearts Club (OHC) is a family owned and operated company dedicated to creating a positive message to children through its line of realistic baby dolls and toys, and have been making dolls for 5+ years. Only Hearts Club Dolls are 9-inch dolls that look and dress like real little girls from a diverse range of backgrounds.

Realistic Baby Dolls That Look Real

Len Simonian, toy and lifestyle expert and president of Only Hearts Club said, “Dolls influence the image and behavior of young girls. From Bratz to Barbie, to Hannah Montana these companies each portray vastly different images through the marketing and ‘lifestyles’ of their dolls.” Simonian added, “Parents and grandparents can play a big hand in determining what dolls their kids buy. It’s up to us as parents of young girls to do our own due diligence about each brand’s messaging.”

The Only Hearts Club mission is to keep young girls age-appropriate while encouraging positive, conscious choices, turning Only Hearts Club into a multi million dollar business. The eight (8) life-like dolls, dressed like real girls, are each supported by its own book with the messaging, “in difficult life situations always do the right thing”. Each doll has its own personality and interests, all with the common goal of true friendship and a pledge to be nice to others.

Only Hearts Club were the winners of the 2006 Dr. Toy 100 Best Children’s Product Award as well as the 2007 Winner of Platinum Award, and has been featured on NBC’s Today Show, ABC’s Good Morning America, as well as in magazines including Good Housekeeping, In Touch and Family Fun.

Only Hearts

Only Hearts dolls are adored by girls because the dolls look like real girls, like themselves and their friends, dress in cool fashions, and because their pose-ability encourages play. Only Hearts Club are loved by parents and grandparents because the brand delivers a wholesome image (cool, yet age-appropriate fashions) and positive message to their girls. The brand is called the Only Hearts Club because it is a group of girls who have formed a club with a promise to one another to “listen to their hearts and do the right thing.”

The Only Hearts company has received countless messages from parents, saying how thankful and thrilled they are to have found a doll that their daughters think is cool and love to play with, and that also provides such a positive influence, especially in light of all the messages and images with which their girls are bombarded in today’s world.

In a Reuter’s interview with the Only Hearts Club president regarding the sexualizaton of children, Len Simonian said, “The sexualization of young girls is currently a huge concern. 10 is the new 15 and 8 the new 13. At Only Hearts Club we work against today’s television and music video culture where girls as young as 6 years old are told to wear revealing clothing, act sexy and chase boys.”

Only Hearts dolls are simply adorable for young girls, as are the other Only Hearts Club toys, furniture and accessories, which includes Only Hearts Club books and a complete equestrian line named the Only Hearts Horse & Pony Club, Only Hearts Club Li’l Kids, and a line of mini plush Only Hearts Pets for kids sold separately.

I’m not sure why, but I noticed there are no 9-inch Only Hearts Club boy dolls in the collection, except for a new boy doll named Trevor in the Only Hearts Club Li’l Kids collection. Hopefully Only Hearts Club will come out with some larger boy dolls soon, because I have a young nephew that would love to have one.

Other Barbie alternatives to consider are the Madame Alexander dolls, Marie Osmond dolls for young kids, and the Corolle dolls and accessories for children.

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The Immortals The Edge Chronicles Book 10 by Paul Stewart and Chris Riddell

Lin — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 19:40:25 +0000

The chronicles author, Paul Stewart and Chris Riddell, have finally finished writing The Immortals, the last book in The Edge Chronicles book series and edge chronicle fans are delighted.

The 10th and final book in the series, the Immortals book chronicles life on The Edge, an island floating in the sky and the series main character “Twig”.

According to an interview with the chronicles authors, The Immortals is the tenth and final installment in The Edge Chronicles series, set 500 years into the third age of flight and after the end of the previous books, this book reunites the three main characters to bring closure to the mysterious “whatever happened to” questions left unanswered until now, including:

What happened to Old Sanctaphrax when it flew off into the open sky at the end of Midnight over Sanctaphrax?

What causes Stone Sickness?

What became of the gloamglozer?

Does Twig make it alive or dead when the caterbird takes him to Riverrise?

What happened to Cloud Wolf when he disappeared into the white storm?

Edge Chronicles

In The Immortals, Nate Quarter, a young Lamplighter from the mines and main character of the Immortals, travels on an epic journey of self-discovery from one end of The Edge to the other. Complete with funny moments, sky pirate ships, strange creatures, tournaments, battles, revolutions and a final encounter with the Immortals, life on The Edge brings all sorts of adventures new and old readers will enjoy for years to come.

According to previews and reviews of the book, the illustrations by Chris Riddell in the Immortals are amazing, and new readers of the Edge Chronicles will enjoy this book even before discovering the history of Twig, Rook and Quint. These books are suitable for children and adults of all ages, but very young children may become frightened by the Edge books, so use your best judgment by reading and reviewing the edge books yourself prior to giving to them to young children. (Fair warning: You’ll be hooked on the series too.)

Paul Stewart and Chris Riddell do an incredible job capturing the readers attention and holding them spell-bound for hours, making the Edge Chronicles series nearly impossible to put down. If there was ever a series of books that should be added to the list of the best children’s classic books of all time, the Edge Chronicles by Paul Stewart and Chris Riddell should definitely make the cut.

The Immortals was originally scheduled for publication and release in the UK on September 2008, but was delayed until February 5, 2009. According to Amazon.com, the publication and release date for the Immortals is March 24, 2009 and orders are now being taken.

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