Prepara power plant mini is automated  indoor gardening at your fingertips.  The power plant mini is the best way to get you to grow your own herbs, indoors, and without having a green thumb.  Unlike other indoor growing devices, it doesn’t require soil or a plant light, just a sunny spot, like the kitchen window.  In three weeks, you have fresh herbs and you will feel like a gourmet chef. This makes a great gift for a real or aspiring chef, or those who want to start eating healthier. Also, makes a great gift for kids who want to start gardening.

Power Plant mini lets you grow any herb, fruit, or plant you want anytime of year.  All you have to provide is the seed of your choice, tap or distilled water is mixed with the nutrients provided and poured over the seed sponge, into the water reserve.  Seeds are then placed in the sponge, no soil need, and the unit is plugged into an outlet, because this machine dispenses the nutrients and water automatically, so there is no need to remember or worry.  The seeds are covered with the strip provided and once sprouting begins, the humidadomes are placed over the seedlings, and removed once the plant gets bigger.  With a typical herb, like basil, you can have fresh herbs within three weeks.  With the power plant mini, plants grow up to 50% faster versus a potted plant. Unit comes with all the tools you need to have two crops.

Dimensions: 8.7 x 7 x 2.8 inches. 1.3 pounds.
Price: $35.99

Check out Amazon.com for more information.

Give Love and Receive Some, Too (Image Courtesy of Coco+Kelley)

Buying gifts isn’t about you– it’s about the person you’re giving the present to. But let’s be honest, it’s nice to get something in return when shopping for others. Here are a few ways to get rewarded for buying gifts.

Get Cash Back

There are several online sites that offer cash back when you make purchases. Check out Ebates.com and Cashbaq.com. When you buy gifts on partner websites you’ll get one, two, even ten percent cash back. And cash is always a nice reward for giving gifts.

Get a Free Gift with Purchase

Getting a free gift with a purchase is just an added bonus for buying a great gift. Cosmetics departments are probably best known for using the free gift with purchase offer. Check out  these deals from Neiman Marcus and Sephora for examples on how to score free make-up, perfume and more when you buy a gift.

Look for Buy-One-Get-One Deals

One for me, one for you! With buy one get one free deals you and your gift recipient will get a great present. Check out this buy one get one free Blu-ray movie deal from Best Buy. You’ll get a movie you like and so will your loved one.

Use Points Programs

Plenty of stores and websites have points programs. The more you buy from them, the more points you accrue. And when you gather up enough points you get rewards like free stuff and exclusive deals. Check out MyPoints.com for a points program that let’s you combine points from purchases at a variety of retailers so that you earn rewards like gift cards and electronics.

Buy More at One Time

Sometimes when you buy more the discount is bigger. Look for gifts where you can get rewarded by purchasing more than one like at Figis.com. They’ve got lots of great treats like Smokehouse Sticks, Creamy Country Spreads and Creamy Pecan Logs that get cheaper when you buy more.

#########

Don’t forget to check out our Coupons page!

#########

We have received some info about a campaign Macy’s has. Here we go:

Customers who make tabletop and houseware purchases of $150 or greater from one of 30 participating vendors between September 23rd and October 4th are eligible to receive a $25 cash rebate in the mail. This is the perfect opportunity for friends and family to get the happy couple a wonderful wedding gift.

In order to redeem this rebate, forms can be found in-store at any Wedding & Gift Registry department or at macysweddingchannel.com/offers. Purchasers simply need to mail-in their original receipt and a copy of the couple’s registry to the specific vendor’s address found on the second page of the rebate form. The $25 rebate check will be mailed within 60 days.

You may visit this resources page for additional information.

Affordable Art Makes Great Gifts (Image courtesy of Marshall Astor)

Art is wonderful. It brightens our homes. Art broadens our world. And it gives us something lovely to look at. But often finding art that is affordable can be a big challenge. Many one-of-a-kind pieces cost hundreds– even thousands of dollars which doesn’t fit into gift budgets very well. But there are ways to find affordable art to give as gifts. Here are a few places to look.

Etsy

Etsy is a marketplace where artists can sell their work. Thousands of people have Etsy shops with unique items to sell and most is very affordable. Pick up signed digital prints for less than $10 like this one from artist Sarah Knight. Or for wearable art, check out this Paris Map necklace made from a scrabble tile and paper. It’s only $6.95.

6×6 Gallery

Sometimes smaller is better. At 6×6gallery.com all of the art is made on six inch squares. That means you can pick up original art starting at just $35. If you happen to be in New York, check out the Six by Six Gallery on East 13th Street. Otherwise, order up your affordable art online.

Local Shops

Head to some local art shops and galleries. Many artists will have prints of their original works to sell that are far more affordable. You can either buy the print framed or unframed. For an even more affordable way to give art as gifts only purchase the print and head to a thrift store to look for a low-cost frame. It’s a great way to support local artists in your community without spending a whole lot of money.

Postcards and Note Cards

Some artists even choose to turn their works of art into postcards or note cards. Pick up a pack of these and find a small matted frame at a craft store. Better yet– buy several different note card designs from the same artist and frame three of them to create a nice grouping of framed art to give as a gift.

As you all know, Fairytale Brownies is one of our favorite gift providers. We love them! And they love us, too! Today, Fairytale Brownies has generously donated a box of Fall Coffee & Sprites Duo, pictured below, to one of our lucky readers.

For those of you who haven’t heard of Fairytale Brownies, here is the story in a nutshell.

The co-founders of Fairytale Brownies, Eileen Spitalny and David Kravetz, have been friends since kindergarten. They went to school together and in 1992 decided to start their own brownie business. At first, they were making brownies in a friend’s kitchen, now they have their own 26,000-square-foot facility and bake over 2.5 million brownies annually. Fairytale Brownies has received many awards and nominations  for their product and packaging. They love to give back to the community by supporting KABOOM – a non-profit organization that helps build playgrounds.

Their website is www.brownies.com

GIVEAWAY

This Giveaway is for US residents only.

The Prize: Fairytale Brownies Fall Coffee & Sprites Duo (pictured above)

“This charming assortment features 1 each of all 12 snack-size Fairytale Sprite flavors and a half-pound bag of our custom-roasted Fairytale Coffee, made from 100% Arabica beans infused with just a hint of vanilla flavor. Brew a pot and serve with a sampling of Sprites for a simple and delicious treat. Our classic box is wrapped with our Fall band.”

How to enter (required): Visit brownies.com and then come back and leave a comment telling us the name of your favorite product.

For additional entries (leave a new comment for each additional entry):

- one additional entry if you follow us on Facebook;
- one additional entry if you grab one of our buttons and post it on your blog, please post the link;
- one additional entry if you follow us on Twitter;
- one additional entry if you send a tweet about this giveaway, please post the link (once a day only); make sure to include @1happyblogger. You may use the following to tweet: @1happyblogger Check out the Fairytale Brownies giveaway at http://www.1happycorner.com/fairytale-brownies-fall-giveaway
- one additional entry if you fave us in Technorati;
- one additional entry if you StumbleUpon our Founder;
- one additional entry if you blog about this Giveaway with a link back to 1HappyCorner.com and brownies.com
- one additional entry if you follow 1HappyCorner.com via email.

The giveaway ends on November 4th, 2009.

*Please make sure you leave a comment for each additional entry so you get credited.
*Also, please make sure you typed in the correct email address.
*The winner will be announced via e-mail and has 2 days to get back to us or other name will be chosen.

Thank you Fairytale Brownies!!:) Good luck everybody!:) Now, let’s see what your favorite product is!

Give Them Treats Other than Candy (Image Courtesy of Gmutt)

Halloween is quickly approaching, but rather than running to the grocery store for a few bags of sugary snacks to give the trick-or-treaters, why not pass out something unique this Halloween? Do the droves of princesses and super heroes that come knocking on your door really need another candy bar? Here are some unique ideas for when the trick-or-treaters start knocking.

Coupons

If you don’t get crowds of trick-or-treaters then picking up coupons could be a good way to go. Fast food joints like McDonald’s, Wendy’s and Burger King all sell coupon booklets for $1. The coupons are good for things like free ice cream cones, free french fries and free apple pie. It’s a unique idea that will insure the trick-or-treaters have something to enjoy after they eat all of their hard-earned candy.

Organic Treats

Moms and dads will thank you when they spot these organic lollipops in their children’s mound of candy. They’re allergen-free, gluten-free, egg-free, soy-free, nut-free; casein-free, and dairy-free. But somehow they still taste like a sweet treat. You can get a five-pound bag which equals 350 suckers for less than $25. They’ve also got smaller bags for about $16.

Art Supplies

Some kids would rather have art supplies over candy. Spark their creativity this Halloween with some spooky stickers or temporary tattoos. Make sure you have a variety of choices for different age groups.

Spooky Toys

Rather than rot their teeth with sugary candy, why not give your trick-or-treaters a toy to play with? Oriental Trading Company has lots of great options like these glitter sticky hands which are just $7.99 for 72 of them. They’ve also got 48 Halloween bouncing balls for $9.99.

Practical Gifts

The kids won’t like it, but their parents surely will appreciate that you managed to stuff a practical gift in their trick-or-treat bag. Pick up a 12-pack of toothbrushes for $9 on Amazon.com. Or head to your local discount warehouse and stock up on things like pencils, notebooks and toothpaste. Just be prepared to get your pumpkins smashed when the little goblins realize they won’t be getting any chocolate from your house.

Looking for fun and practical baby gifts, the SugarBooger™ line by Ore is what you are looking for.  The SugarBooger™ line offers a wide range of baby products from diaper bags, storage and organization items, fun photo frames, as well as tabletop and bath items. Ore Originals started out about 20 years ago as a bold line of innovative bulletin boards using recycled rubber. This first item quickly grew into the basic collection of Ore Originals, call Living Goods™, offering creative solutions to enhance everyday living.  After that came Oré Pet™ and SugarBooger™, which started in 2003, when the founder and President became a mother herself with her first child. SugarBooger™ is a great gift line for moms on-the-go who want and need to be fashionably organized and have products not only fun, but functional as well.

Here are a few of the products offered by SugarBooger™ which would make great baby shower or gifts for the busy mom:

Peeka Boo Brush and Comb Set

This two piece set is ready for gift giving!

The brush and comb set include a natural boar-bristle and wood-handle brush with the matching comb in a natural maple finish.

Comes with the linen mesh bag. Brush measures 5 x 2.5 inches and comb 5 x 1 inches.

Price: $18

Peeka Boo Dish Set
This boxed 5 piece melamine set includes a 8.5 inch diameter plate, 4.5 inch diameter bowl that holds 20 oz.,  6 oz. capacity Sippy cup,and matching fork and spoon.

Dishwasher safe, do not microwave, hand wash for best results. The melamine in this set is lead-free and non-toxic.

Price: $20.

Available in Green, Pink, and Blue

Diaper Bag Organizer Pouches

The Diaper Bag Organizer Pouches will help keep a busy mom organize. The set comes with four cotton pouches with zipper closures and mesh backings for ventilation. Each pouched is labeled and with an icon so that you can properly store dirty clothes, clean clothes, goodies to eat and miscellaneous extras.

Dirty & Clean pouches measure 14 x 11 inches, Goodies 10 x 6 inches, and Extras 7 x 7 inches. Machine wash cold, line dry.

Price: $22

To see the full line of Ore Originals products and find a retail location near you, check out OreOriginals.com.

Before you know it the holidays will be here. From family events to special gatherings, schedules will be filled will lots of extra demands. Want to make this Christmas season stress-free? Then start preparing for holiday gift-giving early with these simple tips.

Make a List

First things first– grab a pen, a piece of paper and get to work. Make a list of all of the people you know you need to buy gifts for. Talk it over with your significant other to make sure you’re not leaving off any important names.

Brainstorm

Now that you’ve got your list, start brainstorming gift ideas. A sweater for Aunt Rita, a book for Uncle Joe, and maybe a new video game for your nephew. Come up with several ideas for each person on your list. When you’re not focused on one idea shopping will be a lot easier. Go high tech with your planning and budgeting by using an iPhone app like Better Christmas List. That way your list will always be with you and you’ll be able to track your spending when you start shopping for those on your Christmas list.

Start Shopping

Now for the fun part– start shopping! Rather than rushing around just before your deadline, start this step as early as possible. Keep an open mind when running errands or walking through the mall. Don’t leave all of your shopping to be done at once. Taking care of it over time will make it more fun, less stressful and easier on your budget.

Get Crafty

Perhaps you’ve decided to go handmade with some of your gift giving this Christmas. Making gifts is a great way to save money, but it’s done best when you give yourself plenty of time. Since you’ve started your Christmas gift-giving early, you’ve got lots of time to get crafty.

Buy Extra

Chances are there are people who have inadvertently been left off your list while planning. Buy a few extra gifts– perhaps candles, body lotion or a DVD. Keep the items flexible so they can be given to a wide variety of people who may pop up on your list as Christmas approaches.

Find the Perfect Gift for Shoe Lovers (image courtesy of doug88888)

Shoe lovers are fairly easy to recognize– they’ve got a wide variety of footwear, they always head to the shoe department first and they’ve usually got big closets. If you’ve got a shoe lover in your life, here’s a little help for finding them the perfect gift.

Cedar Shoe Tree

Shoe lovers love caring for their prized collection. Give them elegant cedar shoe trees from the Cedarville Store. They are ergonomically designed, hand-crafted and hand-sanded. Choose between different styles and sizes.

Foot Petals

If you love shoes sometimes you’re willing to wear an uncomfortable pair in the name of style. Give the shoe lover in your life something to make their collection more comfortable– Foot Petals. They prevent feet from sliding forward, stop toe crunch and keep calluses from forming. Plus they’re virtually invisible and they fit in all women’s shoes.

Shoe Calendar

Shoes can be a form of art which is obvious in this 2010 Shoes Gallery Calendar. Any shoe lover will appreciate the beauty of glorious footwear found page-after-page. From suede sandals to peep-toe pumps, they’re all in here.

Charm Bracelet

For those who believe you can never have too many pairs of shoes, this fun shoe charm bracelet may be the perfect gift. The bracelet features Swarovski crystals on 13 unique shoe charms– each engraved with “feelings” to compliment their style.

High Heel Cookie Cutter

It doesn’t get any cuter than this high heel cookie cutter from coppergifts.com. This way your shoe loving friend can cook up a new batch of shoes whenever they’re in the mood.

High Heel Cake Server

For the shoe lover with a sweet tooth, you can choose a high heel cake server. There are quite a few colors and designs available. Some of the cake servers can even be personalized. 

Gift Certificate

It goes without saying that the perfect gift for a shoe lover may just be the ability to buy more shoes. Give them a gift certificate to their favorite shoe store and they’ll adore the permission slip to find another pair of perfect pumps.

Gift Wrap

And no matter what you end up giving the shoe lover on your gift list, make sure you wrap it up in this shoe wrapping paper. They’ll appreciate your attention to detail every step of the way!

Everyone is looking for ways to cut costs these days– especially now that the holidays are approaching. One way to save money on your gift-giving budget is by making some gifts yourself. Here is an easy DIY Christmas gift that would be perfect for a neighbor, mother-in-law, or friend. Using some thrift store finds you can create a one-of-a-kind Christmas gift that your friends will love.

Supplies:

Plate

Small vase or candlestick

Silicone Adhesive
Step One: Head to the Thrift Store

Head to your local thrift store for a unique plate and base that will make up your cake plate. The plate can be just about any size, shape or color. Think about the person you are giving it to and what colors and style they might like best. Look through the selection of small glasses, candlesticks and vases for a base that will work with the plate you’ve selected. At most thrift stores these pieces will cost you less than a dollar each.

Step Two: Buy Adhesive

Head to your local hardware store and pick up some silicone adhesive. This is typically used in bathrooms or kitchens to make a waterproof seal between tiles or pipes. Clear is probably the best color choice so it won’t be noticed. Choose a brand that dries in a few hours. This will probably cost about $3 or $4 and will be more than enough to finish your project.

Step Three: Wash Your Pieces

Wash your cake plate and stand. Make sure they are clean and dust-free. This will insure that the adhesive works like it should.

Step Four: Measure and Apply

Measure the center of the bottom of your plate. It’s important that your base is secured in the center so that your cake plate won’t tip over. Apply the adhesive to the side of your base that you are securing to the underside of the plate. Push the two together to remove any air pockets. Apply more adhesive around the outside edge of the base for added strength.

Step Five: Allow to Dry

Give your cake plate a few hours to dry, according to the directions of the silicone adhesive you purchased.

Step Six: Wrap and Give

Wrap up your unique cake plate and present it to the lucky person in your life. They’ll love this new addition to their kitchen and you’ll love that this one-of-a-kind Christmas gift cost less than $5 to make.

Images courtesy of Alison Storm