Thanksgiving is just around the corner, so chances are you are creating your “to do” list for a memorable holiday dinner. Don’t forget that the day after Thanksgiving marks the official beginning of the holiday shopping season. Black Friday falls on November 27 this year, and to help consumers save as much money as they can, Ask Coupon Sherpa has released “18 Tips to Having a Killer Black Friday.”

“With the economy still slow and many Americans on a strict budget, retailers are going to be offering a lot of great deals this holiday season,” said Luke Knowles, co-founder of Coupon Sherpa, a comprehensive resource where consumers can find online coupons, printable coupons and grocery coupons along with a free, downloadable iPhone application that provides access to mobile coupons. Ask Coupon Sherpa is the site’s blog that publishes money-saving tips. “Black Friday is an ideal time to take advantage of deep discounts.”

Among the tips in the Ask Coupon Sherpa article about Black Friday are:

Buy the newspaper: There’s a reason the Thanksgiving Day newspaper is the fattest newspaper of the year. Advertisers annually stuff this paper with coupons and circulars advertising their best sales. You can increase your savings with online coupons. Just make sure they can be used in combination with in-store sales or newspaper coupons.

Do your research: If you have your eye on a particular item, surf the price-comparison Web sites and record the prices for reference while shopping. Don’t forget to add any fees to the price. Some stores allow you to place an order online for in-store pickup the next day. You’ll still want to hit that store pretty early, however, and bring your printed-out receipt as sales clerks may not focus on filling online orders when pressed by throngs of shoppers.

Develop a game-day plan: Draw up your shopping list and establish your priorities before you hit the stores. Decide which stores you want to shop and in what order.

Are all parts included? Is the sale item stripped down or sold with all necessary parts? For example, some stores will low-ball the price on a computer printer but not include a printer cartridge, which can run to a pretty hefty figure. As a matter of fact, you should always check the price of printer cartridges before buying a printer. A $50 printer isn’t a great deal when the cartridges cost $50 each and run out quickly.

Hitch a ride: Parking on Black Friday is a nightmare and can waste precious time. This is one instance, however, when biking or taking the bus doesn’t make sense as your arms will be weighed down with packages at the end of the day. Ask a friend or relative to drop you off and pick you up.

Stick to your list and budget: In the tumult of Black Friday, it’s easy to wander off target, so make sure you stick to your list. And NO personal shopping. Wait for post-Christmas sales to treat yourself.

“18 Tips to Having a Killer Black Friday” is a prime example of the engaging content that is found on Ask Coupon Sherpa, which was introduced by brothers Luke and Jesse Knowles. It was the Coupon Sherpa iPhone application that sparked the idea for the expanded Coupon Sherpa web site in August and the Ask Coupon Sherpa blog in September. Launched in April, the Coupon Sherpa iPhone application allows iPhone and iPod Touch users to access in-store coupons from their mobile device and present that coupon to the cashiers at participating merchants.

The Knowles received such an overwhelming response to the iPhone application that they decided to expand Coupon Sherpa into a one-stop online destination for coupons. The Ask Coupon Sherpa blog reflects the Knowles’ commitment to making the Coupon Sherpa site an engaging and fun community for cost-conscious consumers.

Information courtesy of Coupon Sherpa

Ahoy, mateys! Pirates seem to be everywhere these days – Halloween costumes, toys, and movies too. I’m even surprised that my little two-year old daughter is getting into Pirates, but she really does like them (and the parrots perched on their shoulders).

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has just released a new Interactive DVD, Playmobil: The Secret of Pirate Island, just in time for Christmas…with Pirates in mind. In fact, this DVD is the first feature-length, interactive CGI animated adventure based on the best-selling Playmobil Pirate Playsets.

The Interactive DVD Includes:
• Interactive version (90 minutes)
• Captain Gruff’s Favorite Movie (50 minutes)
• Pirate Sing-Along

We started with Captain Gruff’s Favorite Movie, which is the basic movie to play straight all the way through……much better for 2-year olds. The animated characters look just like the Playmobil toys – even their cute little cupped hands. It’s the story of Jack (7 yrs old) and his big sister Amelia. They are visiting their grandparents when they discover another world quite by accident, a world filled with pirates, skeletons, and treasures. I wasn’t sure how my little one would react to the skeletons, having just come off of Halloween, but she didn’t  have a problem at all. She kept shaking her head Yes, when I asked if she liked the movie. We’ve played it now 2 nights in a row….she’s a fan.

On my own I checked out the Interactive Version for older kids and was impressed. It reminds me of those books I read growing up where you make decisions for the characters. Every so often, the viewer uses the remote to choose a path for the character. How fun for kids! I had fun and I’m almost 40! I kept changing the storyline to see what would have happened if I went this way. Playing this way, you can come up with 27 different story combinations. That should keep kids entertained for awhile.

Additional Fun:
For those of you with computer-savvy kids, be sure to check out Sony Wonder, where there are activities, playlists, and more. I found some coloring pages of Playmobil pirates here and here. A perfect activity before or after the movie.

Frugal Tip:You might keep a lookout for specially marked DVD’s. Mine came with a coupon for a FREE Kid’s Buffet w/purchase of adult buffet.

Debra traded in high-powered suits and high-heeled shoes for a new role as mommy–crayon enthusiast, storyteller, and kisser of boo-boo’s. You’ll find her helping families at A Frugal Friend, where she teaches others how to reduce their expenses through coupons, rebates, freebies and deals.

Do you love to read but do not love having to buy your books only to read them once? Are your shelves and nightstands falling over with stacks and stacks of books? Well, BookSwim has a solution.

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION

BookSwim is the first online book rental library service lending you paperbacks, hardcovers and now college textbooks Netflix®-style directly to your house, without the need to purchase! We stock all the latest bestsellers, new releases, and classics with free shipping both ways! Read your books as long as you want — no late fees! Even choose to purchase and keep the books you love!

MY REVIEW

I checked out their website and think they have a great thing going here. I’m a big Netflix fan and I love the idea of incorporating this system into the literary world. There are so many times I’ve bought a book on someone’s recommendation or a review I’ve read only to find that it just wasn’t for me. You can sell the book on Amazon.com or eBay but you probably won’t get the same price that you paid.

With BookSwim, you can make a list of books from their never-ending inventory and have them sent to you for free! Take your time reading them and when you’re done, just send them back. However, if you come across one that you absolutely love and must add to your library, you always have the option to buy.

They also offer gift cards for the book lover on your holiday shopping list. And better yet, for every gift card sold, BookSwim, in association with Eco-Libris, will plant a tree to offset the environmental impact of producing paper for books.

Memberships start at $9.95 per month and you may cancel at any time. No contracts. No commitments.

Reading just got a whole lot easier and affordable!

WIN IT!

BookSwim has generously donated a 3-month, 3 books per month membership to one lucky winner (value $60). To enter:

• Stop by BookSwim before midnight, Nov 28th and check out their library of books.
• Then come back and mention in comments which book would be first on your list. That’s it!
• A random winner will be selected and notified on Jan 18th.
• The winner will then have 3 days to claim their prize.

To earn extra entries, you may do one or all of the following. Each one counts as an extra ticket but you must leave a separate comment for each one.

• Subscribe to my feed.
• Follow Island Life on Twitter.
• Tweet this giveaway.
• Place our button on your blog.
• Mention this giveaway on your blog with a link back here and to BookSwim.

This giveaway is open to US addresses. Good luck!

This post was written for Bookswim who provided the membership for review and giveaway. I was not compensated in any way except for the complimentary membership. By entering this giveaway, you are acknowledging that you have read, understood, and agree to our disclosure policy

Check out other great gift ideas in the 2009 Holiday Gift Guide!

A while ago I had the opportunity to review a personalized photo party plate by Hallmark and I was very impressed with the quality, color, and glossy finish of the product. It was pretty cool to see an actual photo incorporated into the overall design and you can even include a personal message on the back. The only downside is that I think I would have a hard time throwing it away when I was done eating.

“Hallmark Personalized Plates are a great way to show how well you know and love the guest of honor at the party,” notes assistant product manager Adam Cannon. “Our consumers tell us they are always looking for ideas and inspiration. These plates are a great way to add an element of creative personalization to the party.”

The durable, nine-inch paper dinner plates come in packages of 10. Each package retails for $10. The plates are shipped directly to the customer after the five-day production period. Customers have the option of one-day, two-day or ground shipping.

What a great personalized touch to add to any celebration!

WIN IT!

Hallmark has generously donated a $50 gift certificate to their online store, HallmarkParty.com. To enter:

Welcome to this week’s edition of Aloha Friday.

In Hawaii, Aloha Friday is the day that we take it easy and look forward to the weekend. So I thought that on Fridays I would take it easy on posting, too. Therefore, I’ll ask a simple question for you to answer. Nothing that requires a lengthy response.

If you’d like to participate, just post your own question on your blog and leave your link below. Don’t forget to visit the other participants! It’s a great way to make new bloggy friends!

My question is:

What are you thankful for?

Well, besides some of the obvious blessings like my family, our health, and a job I love (which I’m returning back to in January) I’m also thankful for our baby swing. I’m not kidding! Sometimes it’s the only way I can get Kaila to sleep!

By: Dr. Margaret Lewin – Medical Director of Cinergy Health (www.cinergyhealth.com)

Thanksgiving can be one of the most joyous holidays of the year, but it can add tremendous stress, not to mention a ton of calories, to your already stressful (and calorie-laden) life if you don’t prepare ahead.

To avoid being one of the average Americans who consumes an extra 600 calories daily between Thanksgiving and New Year ’s Day (that is over 6 extra pounds), here are some tips for avoiding the stress and extra pounds without losing the holiday spirit:

How to be the Hostess with the Mostess:

Plan Ahead

The Menu – Think Thin:  Remember, there is always a way to make it healthier!

• The turkey: consider using fruits or vegetables to moisten the stuffing – instead of butter or other fats; use complimentary seasoning
• The gravy: plan to serve the turkey au jus – while the turkey is resting, pour the fat out of the roaster, and deglaze the remaining natural juices with white (or red) wine
• For before-dinner nibbles: serve cut-up vegetables with low-fat dips
• Sweet potatoes: forget the marshmallows.  Instead, layer sliced potatoes with sliced apples and bits of brown sugar and a heart-healthy margarine
• Serve a good salad (low-fat dressing on the side) and several vegetables instead of the assorted carbs
• If white potatoes are essential to your menu, bake them and serve with fat-free sour cream and chopped chives
• Cook the cranberries with sweet fruits (such as pears) to cut way back on the sugar
• Concentrate on fruit-based, low-fat desserts such as angel food cake layered with lightly-microwaved fruit and served in pretty glasses

The Preparation: Having MORE than enough time is the key

• Clean out the refrigerator and freezer the weekend before the feast so you have plenty of room to organize carefully
• Complete a detailed shopping list, working from the recipes on the menu
• Buy non-perishables (such as canned pumpkin and condiments) well in advance, storing them together so they’re easy to find
• If you’re planning special items such as a fresh turkey or ham, order it in advance, arranging to pick it up or have it delivered a day ahead if possible
• Working backwards, calculate when you’ll have to start preparing each item, how to organize oven temperatures and burner space, and make a careful check-off list to keep in front of you as you prepare the meal. 
• Set the table in advance, working from your menu to lay out serving bowls and serving implements
• Plan distractions and games for young children to keep them out of the kitchen
• Make sure your schedule allows at least 20 minutes for you to have a small snack and a relaxing cup of chamomile tea before your guests arrive!

The Execution: Delegate, Delegate, Delegate!  Few people really like to be guests; often they’ll feel important if they can take an active part…

Healthy Habits … Wherever You Are: Whether you’re the guest or the hostess, avoid over-indulgence during the festivities

• Eat a light snack an hour or so before the party so the hors d’oeurves aren’t so tempting
• Start your dinner with generous portions of the healthiest and least fattening foods; eat slowly; once your appetite has been sated, reach for small portions of the more calorie-laden choices if you MUST
• Limit yourself to one alcoholic drink per hour, “making-do” with low-calorie such as soda water with a splash of cranberry juice throughout the evening

So… plan ahead, think thin, hold on to those healthy habits and… most importantly… Enjoy the Holiday!

When I was pregnant, I remember buying one of those pads of paper you see at many stores. Ones that are meant for whomever is caring for your child…….the babysitter, Grandma, etc. It has a few blanks where you fill in where you are going, phone numbers in case of emergency, and the pediatrician’s information. WOW, now that I’ve got a real live 2-year old, I realize that I need much more than a tiny slip of paper to give my child’s caregiver.

Thankfully, I’ve discovered By The Book, a personalized manual for taking care of your kids – for use by anyone, and especially helpful for sitters, special-needs children, and even Dad taking over for a day or two. I remember the first time my sister left her son with me. This was before I had a child of my own, and she typed out a huge “book” for me…….filled with everything she could think of that I might need over a period of 3 days. She was trying to reinvent the wheel. With By The Book, there’s no need for parents to struggle with ”thinking” of everything a caregiver needs to know. They’ve done it for you. Just fill in the blanks.

I can’t rave enough about this eBook from Karmel Publishing. It’s so comprehensive that I dare say nothing is missing. For this Type-A Mom, it doesn’t get much better than this.

You’ll find a 100-page manual which includes pages for basics like:

Daily Routines
Allergies/Special Needs
School Info
Discipline Tools
Likes/Dislikes
Household Odds/Ends

You’ll also find pages to fill in regarding:

Emergency Plans (and where to find emerg equipment in house)
Authorization to treat a minor
All things Medical
Illness notes
Nanny/Sitter notes (where caregiver documents things for you)

Not only can you purchase the eBook online for just $9.95 (with $1.50 refill pages in PDF form), but you can actually by a Hardcover copy for just $19.95 plus S&H ……. an awesome baby shower gift!

By The Book is one resource I’ll recommend to any parent I know!

WIN IT!

A copy of By The Book eBook  (PDF) to one (1) lucky winner! To enter:

• Just mention in comments before midnight, Nov 26th why you’d like to win. That’s it!
• A random winner will be selected and notified via email shortly thereafter.
• The winner will then have 3 days to claim their prize.

To earn extra entries, you may do one or all of the following. Each one counts as an extra ticket but you must leave a separate comment for each one.

• Subscribe to An Island Life’s feed.
• Follow An Island Life on Twitter.
• Tweet this giveaway.
• Place the button in your sidebar.
• Mention this giveaway on your blog with a link back here and to By The Book.

Good luck!

This post was written as part of a program for By The Book, who provided products for review and giveaway. By entering this giveaway, you are acknowledging that you have read, understood, and agree to the disclosure policy.

Debra traded in high-powered suits and high-heeled shoes for a new role as mommy–crayon enthusiast, storyteller, and kisser of boo-boo’s. You’ll find her helping families at A Frugal Friend, where she teaches others how to reduce their expenses through coupons, rebates, freebies and deals.

Recently a friend and I were discussing how much our kids dislike those rubber bulb aspirators that everyone uses to clear babies’ noses.

No, it wasn’t the most thrilling topic of conversation ever, but it’s one that most all moms can probably relate to.

We were given a bulb syringe in the hospital after Big Sister E was born and, three years later, I’m still weary about using it. I feel awkward holding it up to Little Sister B’s nose and, sensing my hesitation, she begins to flail and try to get away almost instantly. When I do actually manage to position the tip in her little nostril, the suction doesn’t really do much, she cries and I end up wondering if it was all worth it.

To make matters worse, I’m then left with having to try to clean out the bulb syringe and hope that any bacteria or germs that were sucked in aren’t contaminating it and making it worse the next time I go to use it. Have you ever thought about the stuff that’s probably growing inside one of those? Yuck.

Ubimed has come up with a way to make the whole ordeal of cleaning little noses easier. The Cleanoz Nasal Aspirator Kit is the first battery-operated child nasal aspirator that uses disposable reservoir nozzles, eliminating concerns over how hygienic or sanitary these types of products might be.

Upon opening the Cleanoz Kit (which retails for around $29.99), it comes with everything needed for almost immediate use. Along with the Nasal Aspirator, the package contains 3 disposable tips (replacements are sold in packages of 10 for around $6.50), 3 AAA batteries, an instruction manual and a plastic travel bag to hold all it in (which I appreciated).

We also received a package of Cleanoz Single Use Saline Nasal Spray (a 20-count box retails around $6.99), which is used to help loosen especially thick or crusted mucus and can be used on its own or in conjunction with the suction of an aspirator. As this saline solution is all-natural, it is safe to use for anyone, infants to adults. The convenient size is just enough for a single dose and the applicators are small enough that they can conveniently travel with you when you are on the go.

After popping the batteries into the Cleanoz Aspirator and attaching a disposable tip (it just slides right on the front), it is ready to go. It is used by pressing the large power button, causing a small rubber balloon (that is attached to the disposable nozzle) to inflate and pull baby’s mucus into the reservoir. After you’re finished with both nostrils, dispose of the nozzle and there is no wasted time spent cleaning or trying to disinfect any of the parts.

I definitely liked the idea of having Little Sister B’s nose cleared in a matter of seconds, so I was hoping the Cleanoz Aspirator would work wonders for us. My biggest concern was the motorized whirring sound that the aspirator makes, seeing as she immediately cries when the vacuum is turned on in the next room. I was pleased to find, however, that when I held the Cleanoz Aspirator up to Little Sister B’s nose, the noise seemed to surprise her a little bit but not scare her. In fact, she soon started rolling her tongue imitating it!

I found that using the light suction from the Cleanoz Aspirator is definitely quicker, easier and more sanitary than a bulb syringe but you do have to move quickly. You only have a few seconds from pressing the button until the inner balloon is inflated and it automatically shuts off the aspirator completely. Fortunately, it isn’t difficult to tilt the head of the nozzle to release the air and you are ready to move to the other nostril. Cleanoz suggests that it is okay to use the same nozzle for one child during one day but never overnight or on more than one child.

Cleanoz products are available for purchase on their website or at major retailers such as Target or Amazon.

This post was written for Ubimed who provided a Cleanoz Nasal Aspirator and Saline Spray for review. The author was not compensated in any way except for the complimentary products.

From the publisher: A former elementary school teacher, Lori Jordan-Rice set out to create a children’s book series that was entertaining and educational, with a back-to-basics approach to U.S. history. Her two new books, Miss Trimble’s Trapdoor and Miss Trimble’s Trapdoor: The Perseverance of Christopher Columbus usher in an imaginative new series featuring a fictional classroom full of memorable modern day characters alongside historical figures such as the pilgrims, the founding fathers of the United States and, of course, Christopher Columbus.

Miss Trimble’s Trapdoor: Book 1

by: Lori Jordan-Rice
List Price: $12.95
Reading level: Ages 4-8
Hardcover: 64 pages
Publisher: Synergy Books (October 1, 2009)
Language: English

Miss Trimble’s Trapdoor (book one) follows Tyler, a boy who hates school—that is, until he unlocks a secret trapdoor beneath his desk in Miss Trimble’s classroom. Tyler unexpectedly falls into a mysterious basement filled with old books and guarded by a magical talking dog named Barnabas Bailey. His new companion takes him back in time, guiding him through American history firsthand and teaching him life lessons along the way.

Miss Trimble’s Trapdoor: The Perseverance of Christopher Columbus: Book 2

by: Lori Jordan-Rice
List Price: $12.95
Reading level: Ages 9-12
Hardcover: 88 pages
Publisher: Synergy Books (October 1, 2009)
Language: English

In the second book of the series, Miss Trimble’s Trapdoor: The Perseverance of Christopher Columbus, Tyler continues his travels through time with his trusted canine companion, Barney. As they witness Columbus as a boy, a young man, and finally sail aboard the Santa Maria with Columbus himself, Tyler realizes that even a great explorer can face setbacks before reaching his dream He learns he has to believe in himself to achieve his goals of playing on the school basketball team and delivering an oral report on Columbus in front of the whole class.

Bonus: Kids can visit http://www.misstrimblestrapdoor.com/ to write to main characters Tyler and Barney, as well as for helpful educational links, crosswords and word searches. The books are perfect for kids ages 6-12.

My take: History was always my favorite subject. In fact, I thought seriously about majoring in history when I went to college. A desire to make an actual living that didn’t involve teaching moved me on to an accounting major instead but I never lost my interest in the past. It’s a love that my husband shares and we hope to pass on to our children. How to do that without the usual barriers (”history is boring! Who cares what happened 200 years ago!?”)? Have you been wondering too how to get your child interested in history? Well, Miss Trimble’s Trapdoor series just might be the answer we’ve been looking for!

Each book joins the young boy Tyler on a trip (or two or more!) to the past. Tyler is a bit of a misfit / nerd in school and is bullied and picked on by his peers (really, is there any group alive more cruel than middle schoolers?). It doesn’t help that he seems to have special needs as well (he has a special quiet area in his classroom just for him for when he needs time alone to work on is assignment). It was during one of those times that he discovers the trapdoor to the past. What I like about these books is not only their obvious appeal as living history books with a character kids can relate too, there is also a moral lesson weaved in (learning from the past, being true to yourself, persevering). I really enjoyed these books myself (and relearned a bit of history along the way) and can’t wait for my 5 and 7 year old to be old enough to read them too. In the meantime, I think we’ll read them together and wait anxiously for the next installments!

About the Author: Lori Jordan-Rice has a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from the University of North Texas and a decade of teaching experience. She hopes to cure historical illiteracy by helping children learn in a fun, engaging way.

This post was written for Synergy Books who provided the books for review. I was not compensated in any way except for the complimentary books.